Insomnia: Understanding Sleep Disorders and Finding Effective Solutions

Insomnia is defined as persistent difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking too early — despite adequate opportunity for sleep — resulting in daytime impairment. It is the most common sleep disorder globally, affecting up to 30% of adults at some point. In Korea, a growing awareness of mental health and sleep hygiene is driving more people to seek help for chronic insomnia through community health centres, private GPs, and psychiatry/psychology services.

Insomnia is classified as acute (days to weeks, often triggered by stress or illness) and chronic (three or more nights per week for three or more months). Causes include psychological factors (anxiety, depression, PTSD), environmental factors (noise, heat during summer, indoor heating dryness in winter), circadian rhythm disruption (shift work, jet lag, irregular schedules driven by long working hours), and medical conditions (chronic pain, sleep apnoea, hyperthyroidism, gastroesophageal reflux). Certain medications — stimulants, corticosteroids, and some antidepressants — can also disrupt sleep.

The gold standard treatment for chronic insomnia is Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) — a structured programme addressing sleep behaviours and thought patterns. CBT-I is more effective than sleeping pills in the long term and has no side effects. Korea's private psychology clinics offer CBT-I. Medication options — including melatonin, antihistamines, and prescription hypnotics — have a role in short-term management but are not recommended for long-term use. Good sleep hygiene practices (consistent sleep schedule, dark and cool bedroom, avoiding screens before bed) are essential.