Insomnia
Persistent difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking too early, at least three nights a week for three months, with daytime impairment.
Category: Conditions
What is insomnia?
Occasional bad nights are normal. Insomnia disorder is a sustained pattern with daytime consequences: fatigue, poor concentration, irritability, and worry about sleep itself.
Key things to know
Worry about sleep often maintains the problem. Effort to force sleep increases arousal, which makes sleep harder. This loop is a primary treatment target.
- Clinical threshold: three or more bad nights a week, for three months, with daytime impact.
- Worry about sleep is part of the disorder: effort to force sleep pushes it away.
- CBT-I beats sleeping pills for long-term results.
- Alcohol fragments sleep; it is not a sleep aid.
- Chronic insomnia raises depression risk, so it is worth treating early.
What helps
The first-line treatment is CBT for insomnia (CBT-I), which outperforms sleeping pills over the long term. Persistent insomnia also raises the risk of depression, so it is worth treating early.
How SelfMind can help
SelfMind is an AI companion for everyday mental health support: a private place to talk through what you are feeling, in Hindi, English or Hinglish, at any hour. It is not therapy and not a crisis service; it works alongside professional care, never in place of it. You can try it free, no account needed.
Related terms
This entry is educational information, not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a treatment plan. For assessment and treatment, consult a qualified mental health professional. If you are in crisis, see our crisis resources. In India, Tele-MANAS is free at 14416, 24x7.