“'Can't sleep' means something completely different depending on who you ask.”
“If I knew which type I was, maybe it'd be easier to pick the right approach.”
Insomnia isn't a single symptom — the right approach depends on the cause. The first step is understanding which type you're closest to.
Insomnia Falls Into 4 Broad Types
Even though it's all called “can't sleep,” what's actually happening in your brain and nervous system is very different depending on whether you struggle to fall asleep, wake up after you've fallen asleep, or your sleep quality itself has dropped. Find the one closest to you among the four below.
1. Trouble Falling Asleep (Sleep-Onset Insomnia)
The type where your thoughts won't stop once you're in bed, and you struggle to fall asleep. See also Why Trying Harder to Sleep Keeps You Awake | How the Brain Stays Wired for more.
2. Waking in the Night (Middle-of-the-Night Waking)
The type where you fall asleep, but wake up repeatedly during the night. See also Why You Wake Up in the Middle of the Night | How Sleep Gets Lighter for more.
3. Nightmares or Light Sleep
The type where you do sleep, but have nightmares or feel like your sleep is light. See also Why You Keep Having Nightmares | How Sleep Quality Suffers, and What to Do for more.
4. Fluctuation and Hormone Type
The type where your mind feels unsettled for no clear reason, keeping you from sleep. This is often caused by hormonal or autonomic nervous system fluctuation, and tends to show up more in people whose physical condition swings from day to day.
When Your Type Varies
Some days you might recognize yourself in every type, and your type can even shift from day to day. So you can choose a scent to match your state each day, the Sleep Series Set of All 6 is also available.
Summary
- Insomnia broadly falls into 4 types: falling asleep, waking in the night, nightmares/sleep quality, and fluctuation/hormones
- The cause, and the right approach, differ by type
- Knowing which type you're closest to makes it easier to choose the right approach
- If your type shifts day to day, using different scents from a set is also an option
References: General findings from sleep medicine regarding the classification of insomnia types (sleep-onset insomnia, middle-of-the-night waking, non-restorative sleep, and others).