What Causes Insomnia?
Insomnia has many possible causes. There are times that it may be just one cause, but most of the time several causes together will cause one to lose sleep. The most common causes are:
• Temporary events
• Physical
• Pyschological
Temporary Events
If you recently began experiencing insomnia, it may be due to an event or other stressful factor like:
Medication: Many prescription and over the counter medication cause insomnia. Check with your physician and verify that your medication isn’t the root of the problem.
Caffeine: One of the most powerful stimulants on earth, high caffeine consumption is a common cause of insomnia. Reduce your intake of caffeine throughout the day to improve your chances of a good night’s sleep.
Alcohol: Don’t let the drowsiness fool you. Drinking alcohol may help you fall asleep, but it will wake you up in the middle of the night. Avoid it!
Extreme Temperatures: If it’s either too hot or too cold, you may have a hard time falling asleep. Make sure the temperature is just right.
Noise: This is an obvious cause. If it’s noisy, you’ll find it difficult to fall asleep. Try to keep it as quiet as possible.
Jet Lag: Traveling across time zones messes with your internal clock. This causes short-term insomnia. Try our sleep aid to help you fall asleep!
Working the night shift: People who work at night may have a hard time adjusting to the lifestyle.
Short-term sleep disorder: This form of insomnia is a reaction to stress or a change in lifestyle. It is a temporary situation and occurs in the event of an illness or loss of a loved one, or a minor factor such as the change in weather.
Psychological
For many people, insomnia is a result of:
Stress: emotional, physical, economical, or social.
Depression: the disturbance of mood combined with feelings of discouragement and sadness.
Anxiety: the most common cause of the three. Anxiety increases the feelings of tension, helplessness, fear, uncertainty, and worry. This may be anything from problems in a relationship to financial problems.
All of these symptoms may be caused by simply not getting a good night’s sleep to begin with. It’s important to see a professional if you feel you are experiencing these psychological symptoms.
Physical
Here are the physical causes of insomnia
Medical conditions: Including allergies, arthritis, heart disease, hyperthyroidism, Parkinson’s disease, high blood pressure and asthma.
Decreased melatonin: This hormone is what helps control sleep. As a person ages, the levels of melatonin in the body decrease.
Genetics: Some research suggests that insomnia may be hereditary.
Sleep apnea: The temporary pause of breathing during sleep.
Pain: Discomfort from another medical illness may interrupt sleep and cause insomnia
