Insomnia Facts - 15 Potential Causes
If you are having difficulty getting to sleep or sleeping through the night, you might have insomnia, particularly if this has been going on for over a month.
There are many, many causes of insomnia and only addressing these underlying problems will restore your sleep.
1.
If your sleeplessness started recently, you might want to consider what triggered it? An illness, injury or surgery, loss of a loved one or loss of a job perhaps.
This is understandable and should resolve with time.
2.
Sometimes minor events can trigger sleep difficulties, such as problems at work, travel, an exam or just weather extremes.
Again, these should resolve with time or adjustment.
Chronic, or long-term insomnia, often results from other problems.
Some common causes are: 3.
Advancing age - insomnia becomes more common as you get older.
4.
Alcohol - most people see alcohol as a sedative, and although it may help you get to sleep, it actually stops you from going into a deep sleep.
Therefore alcohol can disrupt your night's sleep.
5.
Caffeine - coffee, tea and cola drinks contain the well-known stimulant, and can stop you sleeping well.
6.
Young age - children and teenagers often resist a regular bedtime and teenage body clocks get delayed.
7.
Depression - sleeplessness is a major factor in depression.
Treating the depression should help the insomnia.
8.
Eating late - sugary foods, of course, can act as a stimulant, but apart from that, you may experience indigestion or reflux if you eat too late in the evening.
9.
Schedule changes - travel or working shifts can disrupt your body's sleep rhythms.
10.
Conditioning - do you sleep better when you're away from home? You may have trained your body to not sleep well in your own bed.
11.
Medical conditions - chronic pain, frequent urination or breathing problems are notorious for disrupting sleep.
12.
Medications - some prescription drugs can interfere with sleep, such as anti-depressants and decongestants.
13.
Cigarettes - nicotine is a stimulant.
14.
Sleep habits - stimulating activities and bright lights just before bed can make it harder to get to sleep.
15.
Stress - a major cause of insomnia.
Worries about family, work or stressful situations can severely disrupt sleep.
There are many, many causes of insomnia and only addressing these underlying problems will restore your sleep.
1.
If your sleeplessness started recently, you might want to consider what triggered it? An illness, injury or surgery, loss of a loved one or loss of a job perhaps.
This is understandable and should resolve with time.
2.
Sometimes minor events can trigger sleep difficulties, such as problems at work, travel, an exam or just weather extremes.
Again, these should resolve with time or adjustment.
Chronic, or long-term insomnia, often results from other problems.
Some common causes are: 3.
Advancing age - insomnia becomes more common as you get older.
4.
Alcohol - most people see alcohol as a sedative, and although it may help you get to sleep, it actually stops you from going into a deep sleep.
Therefore alcohol can disrupt your night's sleep.
5.
Caffeine - coffee, tea and cola drinks contain the well-known stimulant, and can stop you sleeping well.
6.
Young age - children and teenagers often resist a regular bedtime and teenage body clocks get delayed.
7.
Depression - sleeplessness is a major factor in depression.
Treating the depression should help the insomnia.
8.
Eating late - sugary foods, of course, can act as a stimulant, but apart from that, you may experience indigestion or reflux if you eat too late in the evening.
9.
Schedule changes - travel or working shifts can disrupt your body's sleep rhythms.
10.
Conditioning - do you sleep better when you're away from home? You may have trained your body to not sleep well in your own bed.
11.
Medical conditions - chronic pain, frequent urination or breathing problems are notorious for disrupting sleep.
12.
Medications - some prescription drugs can interfere with sleep, such as anti-depressants and decongestants.
13.
Cigarettes - nicotine is a stimulant.
14.
Sleep habits - stimulating activities and bright lights just before bed can make it harder to get to sleep.
15.
Stress - a major cause of insomnia.
Worries about family, work or stressful situations can severely disrupt sleep.
