We’ve all had trouble sleeping from time to time, but what is the difference between that and insomnia?

Insomnia may be preventing you from falling asleep or preventing you from staying asleep, even when you have every chance to. Insomniacs feel dissatisfied with the sleep that they are getting and suffer from a host of symptoms, which may include low energy, decreased performance, fatigue, mood swings, and difficulty concentrating.

It can be characterized by a duration, too. For instance, acute insomnia is fleeting and tends to be a result of events in life, like stressful news, or a big meeting the following day. Many people will experience acute insomnia in their lives, and this resolves itself without the need for any type of treatment.

Chronic insomnia, however, is a different story. This is characterized by three sleepless nights a week over a period of three months. There are many causes of chronic insomnia. This can include shift work, medications, a change in environment, clinical disorders, and unhealthy sleep habits. Treatment is beneficial to those with chronic insomnia as it can return the sufferer to a healthy pattern of sleep. It is often linked with other issues, though, such as psychiatric issues. In these cases, it can be difficult to determine the underlying cause.