Think You Have Insomnia? Here are 5 Symptoms to Watch For

Sleep is foundational to our health, but for many it can be a battle. During seasons of heightened anxiety and stress, you may be finding that getting those valuable hours of sleep are becoming even harder. But how do you know whether you are experiencing a bad night’s sleep, or a more serious problem of insomnia? Here are 5 symptoms to look out for:

1. Difficulty falling asleep (taking longer than an hour)
2. Difficulty staying asleep, or returning to sleep
3. Feeling fatigued and tired during the day
4. Difficulty with concentration or memory
5. Feeling irritable, or depressed

If you have been experiencing difficulties with sleep at least 3 days a week for over 3 months, you may be experiencing chronic insomnia. But even acute periods of insomnia can be distressing.

Chronic insomnia can and should be treated, because if left untreated, can impact all aspects of your life, including: 1. Increased risk of medical conditions: including heart disease, stroke, obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes mellitus 2. Increased risk of mental health disorders: depression and anxiety 3. Shortened life expectancy 4. Increased risk of accidents

If you think that you may need help with your insomnia, speak to your GP or Sleep Specialist. And remember to keep up healthy night time routines to create the best environment for your sleep – you can start with the 10 rules of sleep hygiene from the World Sleep Society here