Final answer:
Insomnia is the condition that involves persistent trouble falling asleep or staying asleep and can be exacerbated by anxiety about sleeplessness. Treatment often involves cognitive-behavioral strategies or medication.
Step-by-step explanation:
The disorder characterized by a persistent difficulty falling or staying asleep is known as insomnia. Individuals with this condition often experience long delays before falling asleep and may wake up frequently throughout the night, struggling to return to sleep.
These difficulties occur despite ample opportunity for sleep and can lead to significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. Common treatment options include cognitive-behavioral therapy and, in some cases, medication.
In contrast to other sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, which involves pauses in breathing during sleep, or parasomnias, which entail disruptive motor activity or experiences during sleep cycles, insomnia mainly disrupts the process of falling asleep and maintaining sleep.
Furthermore, anxiety about sleeplessness can exacerbate the problem, creating a cycle of increasing arousal and difficulty sleeping.