Sleep deprivation and insomnia are both terms used for describing a lack of consistent quality sleep. Although they are related, they are not actually the same thing. So, what is the difference between insomnia and sleep deprivation?

Sleep is vital to our wellbeing, but sadly many of us don’t get the recommended seven to nine hours of quality sleep per night, struggling at some time in our lives to consistently get the sleep we need. This could be for a number of reasons which will be unique to each of us. We could describe this lack of sleep as insomnia or sleep deprivation, but there is a distinction between the two. Here is why:

Insomnia

Insomnia is the inability to easily fall asleep or stay asleep throughout the night. Surprisingly, insomnia is not defined by the length and amount of sleep we get, nor is it defined by how long it takes us to fall asleep. Insomnia can be defined by: trouble falling asleep, waking up several times a night, having difficulties falling back to sleep once awake in the night, waking up too early, or not feeling refreshed upon waking in the morning. Insomnia is complex and can be the result of many factors including a medical condition, side effects from certain medications, stress, jet lag or a noisy environment.

Sleep Deprivation

Sleep deprivation differs from insomnia, as it is usually caused when we don’t give ourselves enough time to sleep, or we do something that interrupts or sabotages the quality of our sleep. For example, we may stay awake too late when we know we have to get up early in the morning. Or we may choose to carry out activities that are likely to disturb the quality of our sleep, such as using electronic devices late at night, which have a disrupting blue light, or drinking caffeine too late in the day. Sleep deprivation is often caused by environmental or lifestyle factors.

The Difference Between Insomnia and Sleep Deprivation

So, you can see there is a difference between insomnia and sleep deprivation. They both cause poor quality sleep, which can seriously impact your life and the lives of your loved ones.

If you think you suffer with insomnia, it is important to consult your medical practitioner, if you have not already done so, to rule out or diagnose any underlying causes.

It may not be a simple process to overcome sleep deprivation, particularly if there is something causing your lack of sleep that is not quite within your control. But there are certainly many approaches you can take to help you to get a better night’s sleep.

If you would like to monitor your sleep, I have created a 7-Day Sleep Tracker to help you look back on your week and see where you slept well and where you didn’t. You can grab your copy for free when you sign up to my newsletter and other email updates from me.

Blissful Sleep Academy