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Insomnia

Last Updated: July 3, 2026

Key Points

  • Regularly having problems falling or staying asleep
  • Often improves by changing your sleeping habits
  • Can be short-term (under 3 months) or long-term
  • Leads to daytime tiredness, irritability, and poor concentration

Overview

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder where you regularly struggle to fall asleep, stay asleep, or wake up too early and cannot go back to sleep. This can leave you feeling exhausted and affect your daily life, making it hard to concentrate or manage your mood. Many factors can cause insomnia, including stress, anxiety, poor sleep habits, certain medical conditions, and lifestyle choices like consuming caffeine or alcohol late in the day. Your sleep environment also plays a big role. Often, insomnia can be managed and improved by making simple changes to your daily routine and sleep environment. In some cases, a doctor might suggest therapies or, rarely, short-term medication to help you regain healthy sleep patterns.

Signs and Symptoms

  • Hard to fall asleep
  • Waking up several times during the night
  • Lying awake at night
  • Waking up early and unable to go back to sleep
  • Feeling tired after waking up
  • Difficulty napping during the day despite tiredness
  • Feeling tired and irritable during the day
  • Difficulty concentrating due to tiredness

Things That Increase the Risk

  • Stress, anxiety, or depression
  • Uncomfortable sleep environment (too hot, cold, noisy)
  • Alcohol, caffeine, or nicotine consumption
  • Use of illegal drugs
  • Jet lag or shift work
  • Mental health conditions like schizophrenia
  • Neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's
  • Restless legs syndrome
  • Overactive thyroid or menopause
  • Certain medications
  • Long-term pain
  • Sleepwalking or sleep apnoea
  • Narcolepsy
  • Nightmares or night terrors

Diagnosis

  • GP assessment of symptoms and medical history
  • Discussion about sleeping habits and lifestyle
  • Identification of potential underlying causes
  • Referral to a sleep clinic for other sleep disorders if suspected

Treatment & Management

  • Improving sleep habits and routine
  • Relaxation techniques before bedtime
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Over-the-counter sleep aids (short-term use only)
  • Addressing underlying medical conditions
  • Prescription sleeping pills (rarely, for very short periods)

Prevention

  • Go to bed and wake up at the same time daily
  • Create a dark, quiet, and comfortable bedroom
  • Relax for at least an hour before bed
  • Exercise regularly during the day
  • Avoid smoking, alcohol, tea, or coffee at least 6 hours before bed
  • Do not eat a big meal late at night
  • Avoid screens (TV, phone) right before bed
  • Limit or avoid daytime naps

Available Treatments

Explore our range of treatment options for Insomnia:

Insomnia Treatment

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Contents

Quick Info

Affects

People of all ages

Prevalence

Common sleep problem

Diagnosis

GP assessment of symptoms

Treatment

Lifestyle changes, CBT

Medically Reviewed

Dr. Vijay Bhat

Dr. Vijay Bhat

Orthopedic Surgeon · Apollo Hospitals, Chennai

Reviewed on July 3, 2026

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