What is sleep maintenance insomnia?
Short Answer
Sleep maintenance insomnia is waking up during the night and struggling to fall back asleep, leading to fragmented sleep and unrefreshing mornings. It’s often linked to stress, light/sound, aging, or underlying disorders.
Why This Matters
This matters because repeated awakenings reduce deep and REM sleep, which leads to daytime fatigue, irritability, and poor concentration. Nighttime wakefulness often becomes reinforced by clock-watching and worry, resulting in a conditioned pattern. Identifying triggers and treating root causes leads to more consolidated sleep.
Where This Changes
If awakenings come with gasping, snoring, reflux, pain, or frequent urination, addressing those causes can matter more than generic sleep tips. CBT-I tools are still effective, but persistent symptoms sometimes require a sleep study or medical workup.