Causes of insomnia

Posted on July 4, 2007 in Insomnia

There are many causes of insomnia. There are two major causes of insomnia. These include psychological causes and physical causes.

Psychological causes of insomnia can be due to anxiety or a feeling where people feel increased tension, apprehension. There are feelings of fear, worry and uncertainty. This cause can occur due to other people’s effects on us. There can be financial worries, concerns over relationships or many other causes.

Stress could be another cause of insomnia. A person has to effectively cope with any emotional, physical, social, economic factor which induces response. Another factor or cause of insomnia can be depression. Depression is caused due to mood disturbance. This can be characterized by feelings such as sadness, despair and discouragement.

Apart from that, lack of a good night’s sleep can create psychological problems. For your psychological problems, you can take professional counseling from a doctor, therapist or sleep specialist. These specialists can help you cope with any of these conditions.

There can be physical causes of insomnia. These can be hormonal changes in women. Hormonal changes can include premenstrual syndrome, menstruation, pregnancy and also menopause.

Another factor which can cause insomnia is decreased melatonin. The levels of melatonin decrease as the person grows older. This is a hormone that helps control sleep. By the time a person reaches the age of 60, the body produces very little melatonin.

Medical conditions can be another factor to cause insomnia. Medical factors can include allergies, asthma, heart disease, high blood pressure, hyperthyroidism and Parkinson’s disease. Pain and discomfort from a medical injury often disturbs the sleep. Sleep apnea is a state where one temporarily stops breathing during sleep. This can be another factor which can lead to lack of sleep. You could also have periodic leg and arm movements during sleep.

Some temporary events or factors can lead to lack of sleep. This can include adjustment sleep disorder. Sleeplessness due to this is a reaction to change or stress. This kind of sleeplessness may be caused due to a traumatic event. This can include illness or loss of a loved one. This can also include a minor event such as a change in the weather or a strong argument with someone. Some people also get insomnia due to jet lag due to difference in time zones. Individuals working in night shift also encounter sleeplessness. If you are working in night shifts, it can be troublesome to adjust your sleeping habits.

Insomnia could also be a side effect of medications. Excessive use of caffeine and alcohol can also lead to sleeplessness. Apart from that noise, extreme temperatures can lead to insomnia.

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