Insomnia or sleeplessness is characterized by difficulty falling asleep, or by poor-quality sleep that causes the individual to awaken frequently during the night, often unable to return to sleep. Although many people experience temporary difficulty falling asleep when anxious or under stress, others suffer from long-term or chronic insomnia.

Chronic insomnia is often associated with clinical depression. Other underlying illnesses can cause sleeplessness, including asthma, heart or kidney disease, arthritis, thyroid imbalance, or Parkinson’s disease. Various medications are known to disrupt sleep patterns. Behavioral factors such as chronic stress, nighttime work hours, or misuse of caffeine or alcohol can also contribute.

Because so many factors can cause insomnia, it is important to identify the underlying cause in order to effectively treat the condition. Medication therapy and behavior modification are often helpful in enabling people get the restful sleep they need.