Types of Sleep Disorders, Plus Symptoms and Treatments

Everyone experiences periods of sleep disruption. Stress at work, caregiver responsibilities, or revenge bedtime procrastination get the better of even the most consistent sleeper.

But if your sleep problems are becoming chronic and you’re unsure of the cause, you might have a clinical sleep disorder: a sleeping pattern that causes you significant impairment or distress in daily life.

Some common sleep disturbances can go undiagnosed for years, quietly eroding the sufferer’s health and quality of life in the background. But the good news is that many types of sleep disorders are highly treatable, so simple awareness and diagnosis can take you a long way toward a cure.

Sleep is a vital physical function. When you’re asleep, your body is busy creating memories, sweeping out toxins from the brain, and repairing your muscles, among other essential tasks. 

To understand sleep disorders, you first need to know what normal sleep patterns look like. 

What’s good sleep?

While there’s a lot of variety in normal human sleep patterns, all involve a basic circadian rhythm the body uses to maintain a relatively consistent 24-hour sleep-wake cycle. During a good night’s sleep, adults cycle through 4–6 rapid eye movement (REM) sleep stages, each taking from 80–100 minutes.

Your body first falls into non-REM sleep, which is light and deep sleep. You’re not typically dreaming in these stages but your body is doing important work, like building muscle and repairing tissue. In REM, brain activity is more active. This stage is associated with learning and building proteins.

Most people need to sleep at least seven hours a night to maintain good physical and mental health. If you wake up infrequently during the night, feel refreshed when you open your eyes, and feel mentally alert during the day, you’re on top of your sleeping game.

What’s disordered sleep?

In disordered sleep, any of the above facets are disrupted. Your circadian rhythm might have you falling asleep or waking up at 3 a.m., or you might be up throughout the night.

You might behave abnormally during REM or non-REM sleep or spend the whole day on the verge of nodding off. Clinical sleep disorders can be short-term or chronic, and some stay invisible for years until a doctor diagnoses them.

• Medical conditions, including heart disease, thyroid problems, cancer, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

• Chronic pain

• Mental health problems, including anxiety and depression

• Stress

• The side effects of certain medications, including alpha-blockers, beta-blockers, antidepressants, corticosteroids, and cold or allergy medications

• Intake of caffeine and other stimulants

• Alcohol intake

• Irregular or unusual work schedules, including shift work

• Genetic predispositions, which can influence your vulnerability to developing a sleep disorder

• The ICD-10 is the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases (ICD), which covers all disease types
• The DSM-V is the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders, which covers psychological disorders

• The ICSD-3 is the American Academy of Sleep Medicine’s International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD), which focuses on sleep-related disorders

The classification in the list of sleep disorders below follows the ICSD system because it’s the most specialized for sleep. But bear in mind that if you see a healthcare professional who uses a different classification system, the disorder names might be slightly different.

The ICSD-3 lays out six types of sleep disorders.

1. Insomnia

Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder according to the DSM-V, with symptoms affecting around one-third of adults in the U.S. and 6–10% meeting the clinical threshold for insomnia disorder.

Symptoms of insomnia include:

• Difficulty falling and/or staying asleep

• Daytime fatigue

• Problems with attention and memory 

• General irritability and poor mood

Insomnia can be acute or chronic. For a diagnosis of chronic insomnia, symptoms usually need to have been present more than three times a week for over three months.

2. Sleep-related breathing disorders

Sleep-related breathing disorders include obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, and hypoventilation disorders (in which the person breathes less than their body needs).

The most common sleep-related breathing disorder is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In OSA, parts of the upper respiratory tract relax and block the airway partially or completely. People with OSA experience both “apneas” (in which their breathing stops completely) and “hypopneas” (in which the airflow is reduced). This can mean they wake up hundreds of times per night without realizing it.

Symptoms of OSA include:

• Waking up snorting, choking, or short of breath

• Bed partner reports of snorting, choking, gasping, or cessation of breathing during sleep

• Waking up with a sore throat or dry mouth because you’re breathing through your mouth to take in more air

• Morning headaches

• Sleepiness during the day

• Cognitive impairments

Because people with OSA are often unaware they’re waking up throughout the night, this condition can go undiagnosed for many years, especially in people who live alone.

3. Central disorders of hypersomnolence

Hypersomnolence is excessive sleep or sleepiness that’s linked to the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). Narcolepsy (a disorder where people experience uncontrollable urges to sleep during the day) is the most well-known of these disorders, but it’s still fairly rare, affecting only around 40 people per 100,000.

Hypersomnia sleep disorder symptoms include:

• Excessive daytime sleepiness, sometimes including “sleep attacks” when it’s impossible to stay awake
• Difficulty waking up after night sleep or naps
• Trouble staying alert
• Problems with cognition, memory, and attention
• Anxiety or irritability 
• Cataplexy (loss of muscle tone when awake, often when experiencing strong emotions)
• Sleep paralysis (inability to move the body temporarily after waking)

4. Circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders

Circadian rhythm disorders are disruptions in the timing of sleep. People with these disorders may consistently fall asleep and wake up late (delayed sleep phase disorder), early (advanced sleep phase disorder), or at irregular times. 

While it might sound nice to consistently wake up early, these disorders aren’t a choice, and they can make it difficult for sufferers to participate in daily activities. These disorders are sometimes misdiagnosed as insomnia.

Circadian rhythm disorders can be temporary, like when induced by jet lag or shift work, or more long-term.

Circadian rhythm sleep disorder symptoms include:

• Delayed phase sleep disorder: Chronic lateness, morning fogginess, and the appearance of being lazy or unmotivated during the day

• Advanced phase sleep disorder: Afternoon or early evening sleepiness and extreme early waking (2–5 a.m.)

• Jet lag: Fatigue, digestive and appetite changes, poor mood

5. Sleep-related movement disorders

Sleep-related movement disorders are regular movements that interfere with sleep. According to the Sleep Foundation, the most common examples are:

• Restless leg syndrome (RLS), which affects just under 10% of the adult population

• Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), which affects 4–11% of adults

• Sleep-related bruxism (clenching the jaw and grinding the teeth), which affects 3–8% of adults

Symptoms of sleep-related movement disorders include:

• Bruxism: Dental problems, headaches, and pain or stiffness in the jaw, neck, and shoulders

6. Parasomnias

Parasomnias are dissociated states that occur around sleep. They include:

• Sleep talking

• Sleepwalking

• Night terrors (waking up in a panic)

• Confusional arousals (waking up confused and disoriented)

• Acting out dreams

• Sleep paralysis

• Sleep-related hallucinations

• Catathrenia (a sort of reverse snoring in which the person inhales, holds their breath, and lets it out with an audible groan or squeak)

When creating a sleep diary, using a digital sleep tracker may help you record more precise information.

A sleep study is a full night of sleep in which you’re hooked up to machines that monitor body functions like brain waves, eye movements, and heart rate.

Sleep disorder treatment depends on the disorder’s type, severity, and cause. Less complex and entrenched sleep disorders can benefit from improved sleep hygiene: a consistent sleep schedule, a calming bedtime routine, and changes in caffeine and food intake. You might tame others through stress-reducing techniques.

Some disorders need specific treatments. These include bright light therapy for circadian rhythm sleep disorders, a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine for sleep apnea, or targeted medications. Your doctor will tailor the therapy as closely as possible to your circumstances, body type, and sleeping problem.

Sleep is a vital function, and if it’s disrupted over a long period, your physical and mental health suffer. If your sleeping patterns seem off-kilter, try making some gentle lifestyle changes to promote healthy habits, including stress management, vigorous exercise, and a regular sleep schedule

If that isn’t having an effect on your type of sleep disorder, it’s time to consult a professional. Seeking expert help for sleep problems isn’t just an act of self-care: it’s also an act of service to others. The world is a better place when you’re performing at your best.