Insomnia is difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep and is often considered chronic if it happens at least three nights per week for three months or longer.
Most of us have experienced brief periods of insomnia (also called acute insomnia). Almost everyone knows what it feels like to still be awake staring at the ceiling and wishing for sleep—this can happen when you travel and experience jet lag, or when you're anxious and overwhelmed by life circumstances.
So how do you distinguish a normal, passing sleep problem from a more serious form of insomnia that requires treatment?