Insomnia

Common signs

These descriptions can help you understand and record what you notice. They cannot establish a diagnosis on their own.

• Difficulty falling asleep +

  Lying awake for more than half an hour, or feeling more alert the harder you try to sleep. If this happens three or more nights a week over a stretch of time, start by tightening up your routine, and consider a professional evaluation if it persists.

• Waking up frequently +

  Waking several times a night and struggling to drift back off, or waking in the early hours and staying up until morning. Note when you wake — patterns often point to stress, bathroom trips, or something in the environment.

• Light sleep +

  Every small noise pulls you awake and the night feels shallow, with no sense of having rested by morning. This often goes with a wired mind or a less-than-ideal bedroom; relaxation before bed and a better sleep environment are reasonable first steps.

• Daytime fatigue +

  Running low on energy and nodding off during the day, with rest offering only partial relief. If this lasts for weeks, look at sleep first and watch for other signals from your body.

• Difficulty concentrating +

  Drifting focus, forgetfulness, and slower reactions during the day — poor sleep and poor focus tend to feed each other. When it clearly affects your work or studies, the sleep problem deserves real attention.