Millions of Americans suffer from insomnia every year. If you have insomnia or know someone who does, it is important that you learn what the causes are so that you can help to treat it. There are many reasons why people suffer from insomnia. Here are some of the most common causes of insomnia and some ways that you can treat insomnia.
The main causes of insomnia are stress, an inconsistent sleep schedule, bad sleeping habits, mental disorders such as depression and anxiety, physical illnesses, medications, and certain sleep disorders. Some of the causes of these conditions can actually be reversed by making slight changes to your lifestyle. For example, a person who is constantly stressed may find that if they take up yoga or meditation classes, they can relieve some of the stress and get some rest. Someone who is constantly meditating or taking yoga classes may also find that they can relax much easier when they are asleep. By making some simple lifestyle changes, you can get back on track to getting a good night’s sleep.
Some medications cause insomnia, too. Many prescription sleep aids come with the risk of dependency, so if you take them, you should make sure that you are not taking a medicine that will make it hard for you to fall asleep at night. Medications are usually a cause of insomnia if they interfere with your daytime sleep pattern or if they contain sedatives, anti-anxiety medications, or mood enhancing medications. Rarely, some insomnia medications only effect the morning hours and do not affect your ability to sleep at all during the day.
People who suffer from insomnia may also experience symptoms similar to depression. These symptoms can include moodiness, irritability, restlessness, thoughts of suicide or death, fatigue and sleepiness during the day, difficulty concentrating, and lack of concentration. A combination of some or all of these symptoms can lead to insomnia. If you are having these symptoms, you should see a licensed medical practitioner such as a psychiatrist or psychologist. Your mental health professional can help determine if you are experiencing insomnia as a symptom of another condition or if your insomnia is the result of a sleep hygiene problem that needs to be addressed.
It has been proven that insomnia can be caused by physical or emotional factors. In order to deal with insomnia, you should identify the cause of your sleeping problems. If you are unable to sleep on an appropriate schedule for several weeks, it is a good sign that your body’s internal clock is out of sync. You should try to get back in tune with your body by improving your sleeping habits and taking care of the stresses in your life. Making changes in your lifestyle and improving your sleep hygiene can go a long way toward treating your sleeping problems.
Unfortunately, there is no one test that will diagnose insomnia, but there are several criteria that may point to its presence. If you have been experiencing difficulty staying asleep for more than three weeks, you should see a doctor. Insomnia can be treated, and if you take the proper steps to treat it, you can get back to enjoying a good night’s sleep again. With a good sleep disorder treatment program, you can get back to sleep like a baby.