Trouble falling asleep, waking up during the night, and feeling tired even after a night’s rest are possible signs of insomnia. The frequency and duration of symptoms will determine a diagnosis.

Insomnia is a common sleeping disorder characterized by difficulty falling or staying asleep. This may cause excessive daytime fatigue that can make functioning more difficult.

Experts estimate that up to 1 in 2 peopleTrusted Source occasionally experience sleeping disturbances.

However, regularly experiencing sleeping disturbances may be a sign of insomnia, which can impact your quality of life. Research suggests that insomnia affects up to 3 in 10 adultsTrusted Source in the United States.

Whether your symptoms are mild or severe, you may wonder if you have this sleep disorder. Here’s what to know.

Insomnia is classified as a sleeping disorder in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, text revision (DSM-5-TR).

You may have insomnia if you:

  • take a long time to fall asleep after going to bed
  • spend a lot of the night awake or worrying
  • wake up multiple times during the night
  • wake up too early and can’t go back to sleep
  • tend to experience disrupted sleep

Not getting enough high quality sleep may lead to symptoms like:

If you experience some of these symptoms for at least 3 days weekly for at least 3 monthsTrusted Source, you might have chronic insomnia. If untreated, this condition can disrupt your day-to-day life.

If you frequently experience sleeping difficulties, speak with a healthcare professional. They can provide you with a proper diagnosis and help develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Insomnia is very common in pregnancy. Almost 1 in 2 people who are pregnant experience symptoms of insomnia, especially during the third trimesterTrusted Source (weeks 28 to 40).

You may also experience difficulty falling and staying asleep, as well as excessive daytime fatigue. This may be due toTrusted Source:

If you’re pregnant and have difficulty sleeping, speak with a doctor. They could help you find ways to manage your symptoms and improve your sleep.

Anxiety refers to feelings of stress, fear, or nervousness due to an event or circumstanceTrusted Source that may be perceived as threatening. Persistent anxiety is classified as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in the DSM-5-TR.

If you lie awake worrying at night, you might wonder whether you have insomnia or anxiety.

You may have anxiety if you regularly:

  • feel irritable, tense, or worried
  • feel tired, weak, or lethargic
  • have no motivation
  • have difficulty falling or staying asleep
  • experience frequent rapid heart rate
  • have difficulty concentrating on anything but your worries

Signs of insomnia, on the other hand, are directly related to sleeping patterns. For instance, you may have difficulty falling or staying asleep, which can make you feel chronically tired.

That said, both conditions share some similar symptoms, and people with either condition are more likely to have the other condition, too.

One condition may also trigger or worsen the symptoms of the other.

For instance, if you can’t fall asleep due to anxious thoughts, you may have symptoms from a lack of sleep. But if you’re unable to get enough rest due to other factors, you may feel anxious.

Consider speaking with a healthcare professional if your sleep issues impact your everyday quality of life. A clinical diagnosisTrusted Source is based on whether:

  • your sleep problems occur despite sleeping in a safe, dark environment
  • symptoms occur for at least 3 days weekly for at least 3 months
  • you have significant issues falling or staying asleep or daytime dysfunction

During an appointment, a doctor will try to identify the cause of your issues by performing a physical exam and learning about:

A doctor may also encourage you to keep a sleep diary to help pinpoint the cause of your sleep problems.

Early signs of insomnia may include difficulty falling asleep, waking up more frequently during the night, or not feeling rested after waking up.

Yes, hormonal fluctuations may impact your sleep and lead to insomnia, such as during menopause, menstruation, and pregnancy. Some common hormones include cortisol, estrogen, progesterone, and melatonin.

Insomnia during pregnancy usually begins within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy (first trimester).

Yes, you can still have insomnia if you sleep during the day.

Since everyone has varying sleep needs, insomnia isn’t defined by how long you sleep. Instead, it’s diagnosed by assessing the quality of your sleep and how you feel afterward.

So, even if you sleep 8 hours during the daytime, but still feel groggy all the time, you might have insomnia.

Some sleep issues from time to time are common. But if yours persist for longer than 3 days weekly for more than 3 months, you may have chronic insomnia.

Practicing good sleep hygiene, going to therapy, and limiting stimulants are some ways to help treat this condition.

If your symptoms impact your day-to-day quality of life, consider visiting a doctor for a thorough assessment and diagnosis.