Insomnia has spawned a multibillion dollar market

After a long day of work, school, travel, or whatever else, the greatest consolation is the prospect of getting cozy in bed, gently shutting our eyes, and drifting off into a deep, restful slumber. But that’s rarely how it goes. Tossing and turning at night, constantly checking the clock, or even worse, having your smartphone on your nightstand and your mind racing... For most of us, this is a story that is all too common and seemingly unheard of, but it ends up ending a cycle of fatigue, anxiety and stress.

Like many of our modern problems, it all started with the Industrial Revolution. It all started in 1879 with Thomas Edison and his only major invention: the light bulb. When people were able to work and live their lives at night, sleep changed forever. This has created a huge market for sleep-related products, from high-tech wearables to luxury mattresses, sleep trackers and melatonin, all of which promise us eight hours of restorative, quality sleep. But it can be hard to tell what's real and what's just a rosy dream.