Sleeping disorders

For most people, sleep brings rest and comfort, helping to reknit the fabric of their lives.

But for some—you, perhaps, or someone you love—sleep can be, literally, a nightmare. Tossing, turning, waking in the middle of the night can transform what should be a peaceful, restorative phase of the day into a debilitating, demoralizing, and potentially health-threatening debacle.

Over one third of the American population—roughly 80 million people—suffer at one time or another from some degree of sleep disturbance. And of that number, half consider their insomnia to be a serious problem. You may count yourself among them if you find that you

• lie in bed for what seems like hours, unable to drop off as your mind works over events of the day or anticipates tomorrow's crises
• sleep fitfully, your rest interrupted by snoring, twitching, or sudden awakenings
• have troubling dreams or "night panics"
• experience difficulty falling back asleep once awakened
• wake too early in the morning, staggering out of bed, never feeling really rested or caught up on your sleep
• struggle to stay awake during the day, yielding to the temptation to nap, or falling asleep uncontrollably

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