What is the difference between trouble falling asleep and trouble staying asleep?

Trouble falling asleep, called sleep-onset insomnia, means you cannot drift off even after 20 to 30 minutes in bed. Trouble staying asleep, called sleep-maintenance insomnia, means you wake at least once during the night and struggle for 20 to 30 minutes or more to get back to sleep. Many people have both.

A third pattern is early morning awakening, where you wake too early and cannot fall asleep again, which shortens your total sleep.

The length of the problem matters as well. Acute insomnia lasts less than three months and often follows a stressful event, and it may fade as you adjust. Chronic insomnia means trouble falling or staying asleep at least three nights a week for three months or longer.

The type can hint at the cause. Difficulty falling asleep often goes with a busy, anxious mind, while waking in the night may be tied to noise, alcohol, pain, a bathroom need or sleep apnea.

If it happens most nights for weeks, see a doctor. Describe which pattern you have, because it helps them choose the right approach.

Source: Sleep Foundation - Types of Insomnia: Chronic vs. Acute Insomnia

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