Have you ever found yourself in bed staring at the ceiling for hours, waiting for sleep to come? You’ve tried counting sheep, listening to sleep apps, and even creating the perfect sleep environment, but nothing has worked.
We’ve all had trouble sleeping from time to time — whether that’s difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep all night.
But if this is happening more frequently, you may have insomnia.
Insomnia is a common condition affecting as many as 35% of adults in the United States. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine states that it’s more common in the following groups:
- women
- older adults
- people under stress
- people with certain medical or mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety
There are two types of insomnia:
- Primary insomnia: when there’s no exact cause of your symptoms
- Secondary insomnia: when your symptoms are caused by another medical condition, mental health condition, or other sleep disorder
These can be further broken up into categories determining whether your symptoms are acute (lasting at least 1 month but fewer than 3), chronic (lasting for 3 months or more), or recurrent (having repeated episodes).
The common symptoms of insomnia include:
- difficulty falling or staying asleep
- inability to fall back asleep after waking up early in the morning
No matter what type of insomnia you have, you will likely experience these two symptoms. But you also may experience daytime sleepiness, fatigue, and irritability.
There are plenty of ways to manage your symptoms and improve your sleep quality.
If you think you may have insomnia, consider reaching out to a mental health professional. They can help determine whether any underlying causes may be the reason for your symptoms and recommend treatment if necessary.
This free insomnia test is meant for anyone who thinks they may be experiencing symptoms of insomnia.
The statements in this quiz can help you figure out whether you might need the support of a mental health professional for the symptoms you’ve been experiencing.
A therapist can also help you determine if your issues may be a symptom of a different mental health condition and recommend a treatment plan if necessary.
This online screening is not a definitive tool. It is not designed to diagnose insomnia or any other sleep disorder or take the place of a professional diagnosis.
You can, however, use this test as a self-screening tool to determine if you might have primary insomnia versus secondary insomnia from another underlying sleep disorder. It also might show your doctor how your symptoms have changed from one visit to the next.
Only a trained medical professional, such as a doctor or mental health professional, can help you determine the next best steps for you.
How do I know if I have insomnia?
Tests such as this one can be used as a self-screening tool to help determine whether you may be experiencing symptoms of insomnia. It may also help to ask yourself these questions:
- Do I wake up during the night and have trouble falling back asleep?
- Does it take 30 minutes or more for me to fall asleep?
- Do I have symptoms such as fatigue, sleepiness, or low energy during the day?
But the only way to definitively tell whether you’re living with insomnia is to reach out to a qualified professional who is experienced in sleep disorders. A sleep doctor can work with you to find out if you have insomnia, identify its causes, and recommend ways to manage it.
Can you self-diagnose insomnia?
No, insomnia can only be diagnosed by a qualified medical professional, such as a healthcare or mental health professional.
What are the 3 types of insomnia?
The three types of insomnia are:
- Episodic insomnia: If you have this type, you may experience symptoms for at least 1 month but fewer than 3 months.
- Persistent insomnia: People with this type have chronic (long-term) insomnia with symptoms lasting 3 months or more.
- Recurrent insomnia: When you have this type, you have repeated episodes of insomnia over the course of 1 year, and each episode last 1 to 3 months each time.
How do doctors test for insomnia?
A doctor will likely ask you to complete a questionnaire about your sleep schedule and symptoms. They may also ask you to keep track of your sleep patterns. You may have a sleep study (home study or an in-lab polysomnogram), where you’ll be monitored while you sleep overnight. These tests are done to assess for other possible underlying sleep disorders. Other sleep tests that may be given include a sleep-wake pattern assessment called an actigraphy or psychological evaluation.
How many hours of sleep is insomnia?
There are no set hours of sleep per night that can determine whether you may have insomnia. Each person sleeps differently, and according to the