What are the common causes of insomnia?

Insomnia is a disorder that prevents you from falling asleep. It has become a common problem nowadays, and about 35% of people suffer from it. People who have insomnia experience trouble falling asleep at night, staying asleep through the night, and resting in the morning. To treat this condition successfully, you must learn to identify the signs of this problem and its causes. So, in order to help you out, we have enlisted the reasons and symptoms of insomnia. Have a glance!

What are its symptoms?

Insomnia is a serious problem as it leads to sleep deprivation. Basically, it is of two types, short-term insomnia that happens for a brief period of time and chronic insomnia that can last for three or more months. Insomnia symptoms are as follows-

• Daytime tiredness and sleepiness
• Waking up too early
• Trouble falling asleep at night
• Waking up at night
• Irritability and anxiety
• Difficulty in focusing on tasks at hand

. Worrying about sleep

What causes insomnia?

Insomnia can be a primary problem, or it can be caused as a result of other issues. Its causes include-

• Stress-

In today’s world, living a stress-free life is next to impossible. Unfortunately, stress has become part and parcel of our lives thanks to the multiple roles one plays while managing work, personal life, and social relationships. This is not good for our sleep as stress can provoke a profound reaction in the body and contribute to hyperarousal. In addition, the inability to sleep can add to your anxiety and make it hard for you to break the cycle of insomnia.

Sleep Schedule-

Our body’s internal clock, also known as circadian rhythm, follows the pattern of day and night. However, many of us follow a different schedule that misaligns with the circadian rhythm. The reason behind this can be working at night shift or jet lag. Not falling asleep at night and waking up with the sun can disrupt your internal clock and cause insomnia.

• Lifestyle Troubles-

Your lifestyle affects your health and sleep in multiple ways. Some lifestyle choices that can result in insomnia are-

• Staying up late at night and keeping the mind stimulated because you are working or using electronic devices like phones or tablets can make it troublesome to fall asleep.
• Taking long naps in the day can confuse your mind and body and throw off your sleep schedule. So, you must try to not rest in the daytime.
• Using the bed for other activities like eating, watching television, or playing games can disrupt the mental association between bed and sleep.

. Consuming coffee late in the day can make it harder to sleep. It is so because caffeine is a stimulant that can keep your system awake for hours. It can contribute to insomnia.

. Taking alcohol before bed can disrupt your sleep cycle and lead to insomnia. It is so because alcohol is a sedative that can worsen your sleep and contribute to non-restorative sleep.

So, insomnia is a serious problem as lack of sleep can make it hard for you to concentrate and function. The condition can result from lifestyle choices, stress, or irregular sleep schedules that must be corrected to cure this problem.