Restless Sleep
Sleep that is light, broken, or disturbed, leaving the person feeling unrefreshed. Restless sleep may involve frequent movement, partial awakenings, vivid dreaming, or restless legs, and often accompanies insomnia, pain, or anxiety.
Quick answer
Restless sleep (ICD-10: G47.9; ICD-11: 7A4Z) encompasses multiple sleep disturbance patterns. RLS responds to iron correction and dopaminergic agents. Magnesium supplementation has modest evidence. CBT-I addresses insomnia components. Sleep apnoea requires investigation where breathing pauses are witnessed.
Recognition
Do any of these feel familiar?
Sleep that feels light and easily broken throughout the night
Tossing and turning or being aware of moving during sleep
Waking multiple times briefly without full consciousness
Vivid or disturbing dreams that disrupt sleep quality
Waking feeling unrefreshed despite adequate time in bed
What is Restless Sleep?
Sleep that is light, broken, or disturbed, leaving the person feeling unrefreshed. Restless sleep may involve frequent movement, partial awakenings, vivid dreaming, or restless legs, and often accompanies insomnia, pain, or anxiety.
Approaches Commonly Explored
Commonly explored for conditions related to Restless Sleep, grouped by mechanism — select your subtype above to highlight the most relevant path.
How to use these approaches
Most people begin with Stabilise approaches, then progress toward Resolve and Sustain.
Autonomic nervous system — sympathetic / parasympathetic balance.
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