What is insomnia really? It is a condition in which we provide the body with too little (or poor quality) sleep. We can speak of a problem when symptoms persist over a long period of time.
Kenneth Lichstein, professor of psychology at a university in Alabama, summarised the research into insomnia conducted over the past twenty years. The researcher concluded that the factor responsible for impaired health is not poor sleep quality, but the very thought of facing a sleepless night.

People who live in the belief that they have sleep problems focus on this fact so much that they start attributing their insomnia to themselves. As it turns out, research shows that up to a third of these people do not experience sleep problems. Lichstein points out that waking up briefly during the night or taking longer to fall asleep is not necessarily a sign of a problem. In fact, the professor emphasises that these factors do not play a major role in the overall quality of sleep. The belief that insomnia creates anxiety, which is a breeding ground for stress. Stress, in turn, affects our quality of life, the scientist stresses.
The part of the population that is convinced that it suffers from a sleep disorder is exposed to ailments that are actually exacerbated during insomnia. The most common are anxiety, depression, general fatigue and, in extreme cases, suicidal thoughts may appear. Furthermore, in people who struggle with insomnia, however, do not pay as much attention to it, the health condition is not as vulnerable as in those who attribute it to themselves.

What is most important in the overall approach to one's health is common sense. It is very easy to attribute to ourselves an illness that does not actually affect us. Lichstein believes that the golden mean is not to ignore, but to maintain a sober view of one's overall condition - both mental and physical.