How do you define insomnia? It can mean different things to different people because there are quite a few variations of it.
In every case however, you end up tired and unable to function the way you'd like to.
If you suffer from ongoing problems with sleep, keep reading to see if any of the following scenarios sound familiar.
First of all, it's true that the most common way we describe insomnia includes when you have trouble falling asleep.
In fact, you could have problems drifting off sometimes or you could have the problem constantly.
As you'll soon discover, though, there are many other ways you might suffer.
Waking up too early in the morning can actually be a sign of insomnia, too.
In other words, you might set the alarm for eight in the morning, but constantly find yourself waking up at six or seven.
So, you aren't getting as much sleep as you want or need.
Poor sleep quality can be another sort of insomnia entirely.
Suppose for a moment, that you go to sleep and get up exactly when you plan to each day but you never feel rested.
That's what I mean by poor sleep quality.
You can often wind up waking up more exhausted than you were when you fell asleep.
That's why getting a good quality rest is just as important, if not more important, than getting a long rest.
Another sign that you have a sleeping problem is that you might wake up several times in the middle of the night.
If you wake up once because of a car honking its horn, that's not insomnia.
On the other hand, if you wake up several times a night and find yourself watching the numbers on your alarm clock slowly change, that's a real problem.
The thing about insomnia is that it's almost always a sign of a much bigger issue.
It's not a stand alone disorder.
It could be a temporary condition relating to some stress you're having in your life.
For example, you might have had a recent death in the family or you may be trying to plan some sort of family function, like a wedding.
It could also be a symptom of a more serious problem such as an illness.
That's why it's important to talk to your doctor as soon as you think you have an insomnia problem.
Your doctor can diagnose your problem and evaluate whether it fits into the definition of insomnia.
He or she may need to ask you some questions and get some personal information from you first.
Hopefully, that will help you to figure out the exact source of the problem and the best way to treat it.
Remember that losing sleep is no laughing matter.
Our bodies need to get the proper amount of rest or we don't function at our best.
Your mood, your work quality and your decision making skills can all be drastically impaired, if you don't get a good night of rest.
So, the sooner the problem is treated, the better of you'll be.