Insomnia

Insomnia is a persistent sleep disorder that is characterized by difficulty falling asleep and/or difficulty staying asleep. There are two types of insomnia:

• Primary insomnia: Primary insomnia means that a person is having sleep problems that are not directly associated with any other health condition or problem.

• Secondary insomnia: Secondary insomnia means that a person is having sleep problems because of something else, such as a health condition like asthma, depression, arthritis, cancer, or heartburn, pain medication or a substance problem (like alcohol).

If your insomnia is short-term it is known as acute insomnia whereas long term is known as chronic insomnia. It can also stop and start again, with some periods of time with no sleep problems. Acute insomnia can last from one night to a few weeks.

Causes of insomnia include:

• Significant life stress

• Illness

• Emotional or physical discomfort

• Environmental factors like noise, light, or extreme temperatures that interfere with sleep

• Medications

• Interferences in normal sleep schedule

• Depression and/or anxiety

• Chronic stress

• Pain or discomfort at night

When to seek expert advice

If you are staying awake at night which makes it difficult for you to function during the day, seek help from a specialist at the Section of Neurology. You can safely and privately discuss your symptoms, gain advice and receive personalised treatment and care.​