Abstract: A method to aid the treatment of sleeping disorders that are aggravated by an insomniac's underestimation of total sleep time and sleep efficiency, and overestimation of time necessary to fall asleep. The method includes an observation of the beginning of rest time and self-actuated measurement of the time necessary to fall asleep. The insomniac is made aware of the elapsed wake time and total sleep time upon wakening by further observing the time of awaking and the elapsed wake time as recorded on a wrist watch or other device. The apparatus can include a wrist mounted timer with a hand mounted actuator that stops timing when the insomniac falls asleep and disengages contact with the actuator.

Abstract: A sleep pattern timing apparatus for a user to record time before onset of sleep and to separately record sleep time to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of sleeping disorders can include a timer for recording awake time and sleep time of the user and preferably a plurality of switches such as a galvanic skin response switch and a tactile plunger-type switch electrically connected to the timer so that the timer records sleep time when at least one switch is released. Using an awake timer subsystem, the apparatus can also begin recording awake time when all switches are concurrently actuated and discontinues recording of awake time when at least one switch is released. A plurality of switches can reduce the opportunity for false actuation. The apparatus can be housed in a hand held housing to fall away when released to further reduce false actuation. The apparatus may be attached to the user with a wrist band for easy retrieval during sleep interruptions.