Insomnia Causes

Are you someone who finds sleep a luxury, not due to lack of time but because, though how much you try you can’t get enough sleep? Unable to sleep once in a while is understandable, but if this is a regular affliction then it becomes a disorder termed as insomnia. Those suffering from insomnia will find that even if they are dead tired, they can’t take recourse in sleep. This sleep deprivation, in the long term, casts serious repercussions on the body. 

Even if you are deprived of sleep for a day or two, the body will become slump and lethargic. The body and mind require a minimum of four to six hours of sleep daily to make up for the heavy activity of the day. Lack of sleep places the body under undue stress as it is forced to continue working without any relief. 

That is why it can be seen that insomnia is one of the factors for many disorders. The best measure is to seek treatment for insomnia as soon as possible. Given below are a number of insomnia causes that you must know.

What Causes Insomnia

Short Term Causes

Stress and any minor and major events can cause a form of insomnia which is also known as adjustment sleep disorder.

Those who work in night shifts or even those who have to work in long shifts can face trouble going to sleep.

Travelling through different time zones can also lead to loss of sleep.

Drinking too much of alcohol and coffee can cause sleep disruption. Such drinks can also lead to fragmented sleep.

Physiological Causes

Insomnia can be caused by various other sleep disorders like sleep apnea, somniphobia and sleep paralysis.

In women, insomnia can be caused by hormonal changes during pregnancy, menopause, premenstrual syndrome and menstruation.

Illness and injury causes pain and discomfort which makes it harder for the sufferer to fall asleep.

It has been found that genetics often plays a major role in causing insomnia. 

Though the role of genetics in causing insomnia is still under research, it has been found that the problem of insomnia often runs in some families.

The hormone melatonin controls sleep and any decrease in its level can lead to varying degrees of insomnia. With increasing age, the levels of this hormone start decreasing which is why older people find it very difficult to sleep or sleep very light.

Various medical conditions like Parkinson’s disease, hyperthyroidism, asthma, arthritis, allergies and high blood pressure causes insomnia.

Psychological Causes
Increased fear, worry, tension, helplessness, uncertainty and worry, in short anxiety of any sort can lead to sleeplessness. Some of the most common anxieties that cause insomnia are financial problems and relationship worries.

Emotional, social, physical, and economic stress leads to sleep deprivation. The level of insomnia depends on how effectively a person deals with stress.

Another major cause of insomnia is depression. This mood depression brings in a feeling of despair, sadness and discouragement which makes it impossible to get sleep.

One important factor that links all the psychological factors and insomnia listed above is that such factors cause insomnia and in turn because of the lack of sleep anxiety, depression and stress gets aggravated.