What does the term 'insomnia' generally refer to?

The term 'insomnia' specifically refers to difficulties associated with falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early and not being able to return to sleep. This condition can lead to significant impairment in daytime functioning and can impact an individual’s overall health and well-being. Individuals with insomnia may experience prolonged periods of wakefulness, leading to psychological and physical effects, such as irritability and fatigue.

In contrast, excessive sleepiness during the day is typically not classified as insomnia; it may relate to other sleep disorders. Frequent nightmares could indicate issues related to stress or anxiety rather than insomnia itself, as they involve experiencing distressing dreams, which can disrupt sleep but do not encapsulate all insomnia symptoms. Oversleeping, or hypersomnia, also represents a different sleep-related phenomenon where an individual sleeps excessively, not aligned with the definitions of insomnia. Thus, the definition aligns most accurately with issues surrounding sleep initiation and maintenance, making it the correct interpretation of insomnia.