What is insomnia?

Insomnia—difficulty getting good sleep or getting enough sleep—is an old problem with new solutions. To deal with it, we should understand what insomnia is, be aware of the factors that contribute to insomnia, and learn what can help.

What Is Insomnia?
Insomnia is a perception of inadequate or poor-quality sleep as a result of:

Difficulty falling asleep
Difficulty staying asleep
Waking up too early
Having sleep that is not refreshing

Insomnia can last for varying periods. It may be:

Transient—lasting for a short time
Intermittent—occurring on and off
Chronic—lasting for more than a month and occurring on most nights