What is a sleep disorder?

Sleep disorders are a category of conditions that affect sleep quality, duration, or regularity, disrupting normal sleep architecture and thereby negatively impacting daytime functioning and health. A detailed analysis is as follows:

Sleep disorders are not a single condition but encompass various manifestations such as difficulty falling asleep, light sleep, frequent awakenings, early morning awakening, and excessive sleep. Difficulty falling asleep is defined as being unable to fall asleep within 30 minutes of going to bed. Light sleep refers to sleep that is easily disturbed by external factors, with difficulty returning to sleep after waking. Individuals who experience early awakening typically wake up more than two hours earlier than their intended起床 time and feel fatigued upon waking. These symptoms directly lead to poor concentration, reduced memory, significant mood fluctuations, and decreased efficiency in work and study during the day.

Various factors can trigger sleep disorders. Common causes include psychological stress and emotional issues such as anxiety and depression. Poor sleep environments—such as noisy surroundings or excessive light—can also contribute. Additionally, consuming coffee or strong tea before bedtime, or maintaining unhealthy作息 habits like chronic late-night sleeping, may similarly lead to sleep disturbances.

Improving sleep disorders requires starting with adjusting daily routines: maintaining consistent sleep and wake times, creating a quiet and comfortable sleep environment, learning effective emotional regulation techniques, and cultivating a calm and balanced mindset.