Do I have Intermittent Insomnia?

I'm worried I might have intermittent insomnia. I've started exercising during the day and getting off the computer an hour before bed, and it seems to help, but I still have trouble sleeping about once every two weeks.

Your sleep pattern is normal. No one can sleep perfectly all the time. If you did, some thing would be wrong.

I had trouble sleeping 2 nights last week.

When you say trouble, does it mean it took you a while to fall asleep, or did you lose out on most your sleep that night?

I take a sleep formula pill if I'm not asleep in 30 minutes.

I think we sort of rate insomnia internally very differently. Me, I allow to be awake about 2 hours before I start thinking I have a trouble falling asleep. I know I can function the next day losing 2-3 hours so before that I'm sort of not concerned and I don't count that as insomnia.

But we all have different needs and different references. If I only had a hard time falling asleep 1-2 days a week I'd see that as being healed from my sleep disorder. Yet again, different views.

I'm not sure there are any external numbers for when it is insomnia.

So, you wouldn't call what I have insomnia?

I guess it sort of depends on how much it is troubling you and impacts your functioning. I think that can be different for different people.

If I had it I would not see that as insomnia.

You just have to the techniques and methods used by good sleepers, usually learn unconsciously, to feel that you have the day off, tomorrow is not here yet, so you can let go, relax and slip into blissful sleep.

If I had sleep problems only twice a week I would consider myself cured of insomnia. I have chronic insomnia though. I've had it my whole life. Even as a little kid I would watch the hands of the clock slowly move by, eyes wide open, 2am, 3am, etc. Nowadays I can't fall asleep until the sun comes up (6-8am) if I sleep at all. And I have full time work and school to contend with.

I think intermittent insomnia means having prolonged periods of insomnia (like weeks or months) and also having periods of normal sleep in between "episodes". A few hours on day or two here or there doesn't sound like intermittent insomnia to me.

So, you guys don't think I have insomnia?

On topic, I don't remember if I took a melatonin last night. I don't remember looking at the alarm clock, which is what I usually do when I have trouble sleeping, and I don't really feel sleepy, like I do the morning after taking a pill.

I guess I'm better off than my sister and aunt, who take Unisom and Ambien every night, respectively.

On the bright side, I ALMOST slept well every night last week.

Nope, I think you're fine, it can just take a while to fall asleep sometimes. That's not abnormal.

Another thing is, I'm sleepy during the day after I take a pill, but not overwhelmingly so.

Had to take a pill last night.

So, I probably don't have insomnia?

I'm worried I'll become dependent on it, and my body will stop producing melatonin. The sleep formula has 1.5 mgs of melatonin.

Hello they say not to use comps or TV before bed , in the UK at the most the gov is worried about teenagers and smart phones going to bed , my neice Amy , is always on her phone , and doesn't get to sleep to late , and then can't get up , don't think she has insomnia , but data says light from TV and comp screens over stimulates the brain

Risuneko please can I ask you ? How do you cope with work and insomnia ? , I've had three or four long bouts of insomnia and anxiety/depression , like no sleep at all insomnia and end up getting sacked