Insomnia is characterized by the recurring difficulty to fall or remain asleep despite motivation and means to do so. People with insomnia also experience excessive daytime sleepiness and other cognitive impairments while they are awake. Insomnia is considered a chronic condition when patients exhibit symptoms at least three times per week for at least three months. Based on recent statistics, up to one-third of adults live with some form of insomnia.
- Sleep-onset insomnia occurs when people have difficulty falling asleep, even when they are tired.
- Sleep maintenance insomnia refers to difficulty staying asleep during the night.
- Mixed insomnia is a hybrid condition characterized by sleep-onset and sleep maintenance insomnia symptoms.