What is insomnia?

Insomnia is a medical condition recognised by doctors and other healthcare professionals. It is called insomnia when you don't get enough quality sleep for at least one month.
The following are symptoms of insomnia:
Not being able to get off to sleep
Waking up for long periods throughout the night
Waking up too early
Not feeling refreshed after a night’s sleep
Not being able to function properly during the next day, whether at work or with family or friends
The following are the consequences of insomnia:
You are tired all the time
You nod off during the day
You find it difficult to concentrate on tasks or at work
You find it hard to make decisions
You may become forgetful
You start to feel irritable and moody
There are two types of insomnia: primary and secondary. Primary insomnia is insomnia that happens without any specific physical or mental condition, or through the side effect of any substance (such as alcohol or ‘street drugs’). Secondary insomnia is when your inability to sleep stems from problems such as ill health, or as a side effect of medication, alcohol or ‘street drugs’. To resolve secondary insomnia you need to sort out the primary problem first in order to reduce your symptoms of insomnia.