What is the term for the prolonged or abnormal inability to sleep?

The term for the prolonged or abnormal inability to sleep is indeed insomnia. It is characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early and not being able to go back to sleep. Insomnia can be caused by a variety of factors including stress, anxiety, medical conditions, medications, and lifestyle choices. It can significantly impact an individual’s daily functioning and quality of life, as sleep is essential for physical and mental health.

Sleep apnea, on the other hand, refers to a condition characterized by interruptions in breathing during sleep, which can also lead to poor sleep quality and daytime fatigue but is not solely defined as an inability to sleep. Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that affects the control of sleep and wakefulness and can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness but does not refer to difficulty sleeping at night. Hypersomnia involves excessive sleepiness during the day and can present as prolonged nighttime sleep, which is contrary to the definition of insomnia. These distinctions clarify why insomnia is the correct term for the prolonged difficulty in sleeping.