"It's very important to rule out other sleep disorders, as some sleep disorders can mimic insomnia," explained Dr. Lourdes DelRosso, a sleep physician with Seattle's Children's Hospital.
One of those is restless leg syndrome.
"You have this sensation in your legs that you really need to move your legs," DelRosso said. "It can prolong it for up to an hour."
Even though there's no cure for restless leg syndrome, avoiding caffeine and getting plenty of exercise, warm baths and massages can relax your leg muscles.
Another thing that can mimic insomnia is a delay in your circadian clock.
"Usually, adolescents, teenagers, naturally start having a delayed sleep cycle," DelRosso stated.
It can result in excessive daytime sleepiness. To lessen the effects of that, keep a consistent wake-up time that doesn't vary more than two hours, even on the weekends.
Finally, if you are feeling tired during the day, it could be sleep apnoea, which could put you at greater risk for a stroke and heart attack. It's estimated that 85% to 90% of people with sleep apnoea don't know they have it.
Inform your doctor if you experience snoring, daytime sleepiness or mood changes. That could help you get the right diagnosis to catch some quality zzzs.
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