[Edgar]

Hi,

I often come across,on this forum as well as others, statetements like “If you sleep for 5 hours, why are you complaining?” or “I wish I could get 5 hours of natural sleep”, and so on.

Honestly, it pisses me off a little, no offense.

This statement about “real” and “unreal” insomnia is , for the most part, coming from people who experience insomnia occassionally, to whom it comes and goes. So they do get very little sleep, less than 5 hours (0,1,2 hrs) for a couple of days,think their situation is the worst in the world, but things get better very soon and they are gone.

The other type of insomniacs who say this are those who sleep “only 2-3 hours” a night, but then sleep another, I-don’t-know, 5 during the day, except that of course doesn’t count.

I will be honest – I used to be the first kind of sleeper -the one who experienced occassional insomnia. I would sleep just fine for a week, then I would get hit with a few nights of 0,1,2 hrs of sleep.

Except I did not nap or drop off to recover.

But still, I also used to say “why are you complaining, you got 5 hours of natural sleep!”

Well anyway, comparing my sleep patterns from before and the ones from the past 2.5 years, I’m pretty sure this new kind is much, much worse. 5-6 hours a day, EVERY DAY, no sleeping in, no napping, no recovery, no weekend rest, no holiday snoozing.

And no, that is not “as much sleep as my body needs”, for I am a walking, unfocused, eyes-drooping,mouth-gaping zombie.

So that’s that, I just had to vent, sorry. There is no such thing as “not a real insomnia” if a person feels terrible. All kinds of insomnia suck – onset, maintenance, early awakening. So please, no looking down on one another.

Eddy.

[Steve]

Yes, I know what you mean Eddy. I kind of get ticked off at people who when I tell them I suffer from chronic insomnia they tell me “Me too!”. And then tell me how they can only get about 5 hours sleep two nights in a row and then make it all up on the third night. I don’t really consider that chronic insomnia. My life has really been curtailed by this and I sure wish I knew what caused it, although I have a strong suspicion.

[Christine]

I think if your acutely or chronically tired, your sleep is erratic, and it’s causing you distress, no matter how many hours you do or don’t sleep; the outcome is all the same-You’re exhausted and here looking for support and encouragement.

[SIimon]

I am one of those that had mentioned ‘real insomnia’  on here and for me this is a very personal perspective.

I am so used to sleeping for only 5-6 hrs (15 years) that is had become the norm for me and I don’t consider these bad nights, but I undoubtedly have chronic insomnia.

Sure I don’t feel especially great most days but I can function and have a life on this amount of sleep. Guess I am lucky in this respect as it seems many would suffer far more than me on this amount of sleep

What kills me are the zero hour sleep nights, my ‘real insomnia’. I have had lots of these over the last few months and I have never felt anything other than horrible the following day…..the difference between 4hr and 0hr is massive to me. far more than the difference between 4hr and 8hr (mind you I can’t remember the last time I got 8hr kip)….that said, my dads wife has more zero hours nights than me and she says she always feels ok after them! Madness!

All the above highlights is how we are all different and if you feel like sleep, or lack of it, is impacting your life then you undoubtedly have insomnia.

[Edgar]

Simon – Yeah, I think we are all in agreement.

Christine, I think your post could even be turned into a new definition of chronic insomnia.

Slimon, zero sleep nights are the worst thing I’ve ever felt. They are the main reason why I’m sticking to my pills. So I hear you.

[Martin Reed]

You make an excellent point, Edgar.

The diagnostic criteria for chronic insomnia make no mention of sleep duration. Instead, the criteria refer to subjective difficulty falling asleep/staying asleep/poor daytime function.

No mention is made about sleep duration in diagnostic guidelines because sleep requirements vary from person to person (and sleep quality is often more important than sleep quantity).

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