Most of us think of insomnia as a problem that makes it very hard to sleep, leaving sufferers to lie awake, frustrated, all night. But that’s only one form of the condition. I have sleep maintenance insomnia, for instance, which means that I have no problem at all falling asleep – I just can’t stay asleep past about 3am. And, it turns out, “paradoxical insomnia” occurs when your kip is technically very healthy. What is “paradoxical insomnia”?Per the Cleveland Clinic, it happens when you “feel like you have insomnia symptoms even though you’re getting a healthy amount of sleep”. It is sometimes called sleep state misperception. Though it’s common to have a slightly warped idea of how many hours you slept, this is especially true of those with the condition.Your brain and body might be getting enough rest, but if you have paradoxical insomnia, you’ll feel like you stayed awake all night – hence the “paradox”. There’s not a lot of research on it, but one review found “Depending on the definition used, the prevalence of paradoxical insomnia ranged from 8 to 66%”.Though people with paradoxical insomnia might not experience the daytime impairment of those with other insomnias, they are likely to report the same symptoms.What are the symptoms of “paradoxical insomnia”?You might feel very aware of your sleep surroundings. You might also feel like you had racing thoughts while trying to sleep, like you were up all night, or like you couldn’t fall asleep no matter what. You may have sleep anxiety and feel frustrated and doubtful about your own perception of sleep.Some people will experience the fatigue you would expect from a bad night’s sleep. In fact, daytime function impairment that doesn’t stack up with the number of hours slept is common among those with paradoxical insomnia.“Your feelings are real, even if your body isn’t actually experiencing insomnia symptoms. You’re not faking it or making up what you’re experiencing” if you have paradoxical insomnia, the Cleveland Clinic said.What causes “paradoxical insomnia”? We don’t know. But scientists think that it could be linked to anxiety, or that it could be a physical difference in the brains of some sleeping people that we don’t yet have the tools to detect. It has been observed in the past that people with paradoxical insomnia seem to have more active brains during some sleep stages, and lighter sleep.What should I do if I think I have “paradoxical insomnia”? It’s deemed hard to diagnose, but can sometimes be spotted after a sleep study. You might also be asked to keep a sleep journal or wear a smartwatch-like device.Speak to your GP if your sleep is affecting your day-to-day life, and trying lifestyle changes doesn’t work.Related…I Tried Vitamin D To Help My Insomnia. Here’s My Honest ReviewI’m A Sleep Writer With Insomnia ― These 4 Expert Tips Actually HelpedTiny Shifts In Eating, Sleeping, And Exercise May Transform Your Longevity HuffPost UK – Athena2 – All Entries (Public) Read More