Insomnia VS. Hypersomnia

It’s easy to confuse insomnia and hypersomnia, two conditions that are components from sleeping problems. Insomnia is a condition in which people have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, while hypersomnia causes people to feel excessively sleepy during the day. Both conditions are fairly common, with about 10% of Americans experiencing insomnia and around 5% of Americans having hypersomnia—and it’s possible to have both conditions at the same time. If you’re noticing changes in your sleeping habits or feeling exhausted during the day, here’s what you need to know about insomnia vs. hypersomnia; these are very confusing yet common sleep issues.

Insomnia is a condition where people have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.

Insomnia is the inability to sleep. Patients with insomnia have difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early. Insomnia is a symptom of other medical conditions such as depression and anxiety disorders but can be treated using behavioral therapy, antidepressants, and/or sleeping pills; these can be either prescribed or over the counter medication.

Disclaimer: The information provided on Mental Health Path is intended to be educational, not medical advice. It should not be used in place of professional advice and supervision from a specialist. If you suspect you have a sleep disorder or a health problem, please consult your doctor as soon as possible.

Insomnia affects approximately 10-30% of the population at any given time, with higher rates in older adults (greater than 50 years old). There are many causes of insomnia including stress, sleep-related breathing disorders like throat or nasal congestion, irregular sleep schedules (shift work), jet lag or travel across time zones which disrupts circadian rhythms, and physical pain that keeps you awake at night such as leg cramps, sore muscles, high or low blood sugar levels, period cramps, backaches and mental health issues like depression which may lead to anxiety or even panic attacks.
Hypersomnia, in contrast, is a condition that causes people to feel excessive sleepiness during the day.

Hypersomnia is a condition that causes people to feel excessive sleepiness during the day. In contrast, insomnia is a condition that causes people to have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep at night. Both are quite common and can be diagnosed with the help of a professional.

Having ADHD and hypersomnia may mean that you are experiencing symptoms of both conditions at the same time.

If you have ADHD and hypersomnia, it can be helpful to talk to your doctor about these conditions. Your doctor may be able to provide treatment that will improve the quality of your life.

If you are experiencing symptoms of both disorders at the same time, it is important for you to seek help from a professional who is familiar with both conditions. You might need a combination of treatments or medications that work differently from those prescribed for each disorder individually.

Some symptoms of insomnia may include:

• Inability to sleep even when given the opportunity
• Trouble falling asleep
• Waking up too frequently during the night
• Constant worries on your sleeping patterns
• Anxiety and/or depression
• Inability to focus

Symptoms of hypersomnia

• The necessity to nap after an adequate amount of sleep
• Excessive sleepiness during the day
• Issues with memory or concentration
• Sleeping more than the average amount of hours, and yet, still feeling sleepy

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While insomnia is often caused by stress, hypersomnia may be caused by oversleeping or undiagnosed sleep disorders.

While insomnia is often caused by stress, hypersomnia may be caused by oversleeping or undiagnosed sleep disorders. Hypersomnia can be a result of many things including sleep apnea, circadian rhythm disorders (a disruption in the normal sleep-wake cycle), narcolepsy (a neurological disorder that causes extreme drowsiness), and REM behavior disorder (an abnormal condition where people physically act out their dreams).

There are multiple types of hypersomnia that all-cause excessive daytime sleepiness:

• Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by overwhelming sleepiness and sudden “sleep attacks” that can occur at any time during the day.
• Sleep apnea is a condition in which breathing is interrupted during sleep, often several times per hour, causing blood oxygen levels to drop and resulting in irritability upon waking.
• Sleep drunkenness is a type of parasomnia where people who suffer from this can act out their dreams while still asleep; it’s sometimes considered an idiopathic hypnogogic hallucination. This can be caused by anything from brain injury to brain tumors or infections such as meningitis.

If you notice changes in your sleeping habits, such as difficulty staying asleep or feeling excessively sleepy, talk to your doctor.

If you notice changes in your sleeping habits, such as difficulty staying asleep or feeling excessively sleepy, talk to your doctor. Don’t try to self-diagnose or self-treat insomnia or hypersomnia. There are some alternatives that can help you with insomnia, but these are only temporary alternatives.

We hope this article has helped you understand the differences between insomnia and hypersomnia. If you are having difficulty sleeping or excessive daytime sleepiness, it is important to talk to your doctor about the possible causes. By talking with an expert, you will be able to identify the root cause of your symptoms and find a solution that works for you. Talking to a professional in the mental health field can be really helpful as well. If you feel like you don’t have time, I recommend you give Online-Therapy a chance.