Sleep is a part of the daily routine that is vital for a person to function adequately during the day. Without sufficient sleep or problems sleeping, a person may have more difficulty concentrating and functioning during the course of the day. There are two main categories of sleep disorders: dyssomnias and parasomnias. • Dyssomnia is more focused on conflicts when trying to sleep or stay awake. You may experience cases such as waking up during the night, suddenly falling asleep during the day, or being unable to breathe for a moment during sleep. There are different variations of dyssomnia: o Insomnia is the most frequent form of dyssomnia that exists. It occurs when a person has difficulty sleeping, wakes up all night, or wakes up too early in the morning. Different causes of insomnia can be stress or anxiety before bed, or something as simple as not being in a comfortable environment to sleep. More severe cases are usually classified along with other medical or mental disorders. Treatments for insomnia are generally prescription medications such as Xanax or Lunesta for short-term use. o Another more serious form of dyssomnia is narcolepsy. Narcolepsy occurs when a person feels the unexpected need to sleep during normal times in order to be awake during the day. People who suffer from narcolepsy normally experience falling asleep suddenly while actively walking or driving, extreme muscle weakness, or the inability to move during an attack. The exact causes or treatments for narcolepsy are unknown, except that taking a long nap during the day or taking antidepressants might reduce the occurrence of sudden attacks. o Another serious form of dyssomnia is sleep apnea. It is characterized by the momentary inability to breathe during sleep, then breathing sharply to catch one's breath. The causes of sleep apnea can be blockage of the airway or the inability of the brain to send signals to the diaphragm. There are numerous treatments for sleep apnea, such as exercising, losing and maintaining weight if necessary, avoiding drinking alcohol, sleeping on one side of the body, or using machines to keep the airways open. • Parasomnia is the other major aspect of sleep disorders. . It deals with unusual disturbances during sleep rather than conflicts with trying to sleep or stay awake. o Nightmares and night terrors are two forms of parasomnias. Nightmares typically occur more towards the end of the sleep cycle, while night terrors occur early in the sleep cycle..