Sleep Disorders Vocabulary

verb past tense of disturb, meaning to interfere with or interrupt the normal arrangement or functioning of

adjective feeling or showing worry or concern

• The peace of the community was disturbed by the loud noise coming from the construction site.
• I was disturbed by the creepy noises I heard while walking home last night.
• She was really disturbed by the breakup with her boyfriend.
• The unexpected turn of events disturbed the carefully laid plans for the project.

noun a person who suffers from insomnia, a sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep

• The doctor diagnosed him as an insomniac due to his chronic inability to fall asleep.
• My friend is such an insomniac, she's always up late scrolling through her phone.
• I feel like such an insomniac when I can't stop binge-watching Netflix late into the night.
• The city that never sleeps is like an insomniac, always buzzing with activity.

noun a state of being restless, unable to keep still or quiet

• The patient's restlessness could be a sign of an underlying medical condition.
• I can't sit still, my restlessness is driving me crazy!
• I've got major ants in my pants today, my restlessness is off the charts.
• Her constant need for change and excitement reflects a deeper restlessness within her soul.

noun a loud, harsh noise made by someone who is snoring

verb to breathe during sleep with a harsh, snorting noise caused by vibration of the soft palate

• The patient's loud snore indicated a potential breathing problem during sleep.
• I can't sleep with your loud snoring, please roll over.
• My roommate's snoring is so annoying, it's like a chainsaw in my ear.
• The sound of the wind through the trees was like a gentle snore in the peaceful night.

noun a condition in which a person walks around and does other activities while asleep; sleepwalking

• Somnambulism is a sleep disorder characterized by walking or performing other complex behaviors while asleep.
• I heard that sleepwalking is another term for somnambulism.
• My friend told me she has somnambulism, but I think she just sleepwalks when she's stressed.
• His actions seemed to be guided by somnambulism, as if he was just going through the motions without really being present.

verb Toss and turn are both verbs in this context. To toss means to throw something lightly or carelessly, and to turn means to move or rotate around an axis or center.

• The patient would often toss and turn throughout the night due to their discomfort.
• I couldn't sleep last night, I just kept tossing and turning in bed.
• I was so stressed about the exam that I tossed and turned all night.
• The decision weighed heavily on her mind, causing her to toss and turn in bed.

noun a person who snores

• The snorer in the next room kept me awake all night.
• My roommate is such a loud snorer, it's impossible to sleep.
• I can't stand sharing a room with that snorer, it's like trying to sleep next to a chainsaw.
• Her snoring was so loud, it was like a symphony of snores filling the room.