The Causes of Insomnia

Did you know that the causes of insomnia are about as varied as the people who suffer from it?

Insomnia affects over 70 million Americans, and almost a third of them suffer chronically. Around the world, countless citizens of other countries share our sleep deprivation.

This sleep disorder can strike anyone, anytime, anywhere and for a whole variety of reasons. Some of these are simple and easily recognizable, but some are much more complex.

So, what causes insomnia? Well, that really depends on which type of insomnia you're experiencing.

Causes of Short-Term Insomnia

Almost any kind of stress that's a short-term event, such as taking exams, making a speech, or having to sleep in a strange hotel room, can also trigger transient insomnia.

Here's a list of the most common causes of insomnia which is considered transient or short-term -

• Being female!
  Women are more likely to suffer from insomnia than men, twice as likely in fact, although after the age of menopause the gap closes somewhat. It's thought that hormonal fluctuations (menstruation cycles, pregnancy, menopause) play a significant role in pre-disposing women to suffer from insomnia and conditions such as menopause fatigue.


• Growing older
  Sleeping patterns change as we age and our health often deteriorates as well. Research shows that if you're aged 65 or older, you have a 1 in 2 chance of suffering from insomnia (as opposed to a 1 in 3 chance for people under 65). This makes the elderly a high-risk group. The quality of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep is believed to decrease with age, therefore the sleep that we get is less restorative, lighter and we're more subject to night-time awakening.


• Psychological Causes
  Other recognized causes of insomnia include psychological conditions such as anxiety and depression. Our lives are punctuated by stressful events such as illness, death, divorce, job loss, financial concerns and more, and even seemingly positive experiences (such as weddings, the birth of children etc.) can negatively impact our sleep. These then result in feelings of anxiety, fear, worry and frustration, often leading to acute anxiety or depression, which are onsidered leading causes of insomnia


• Physical Causes
  Physical causes of insomnia can include acute illnesses or injuries which cause pain and discomfort. This results in poor quality/reduced quantity of sleep for short periods of time. Often the medications taken to treat these problems can make the insomnia worse.


• Shift Work
  If your job requires you to work the night shift, alternating or extra-long shifts, you're at a higher than average risk of suffering from insomnia. Your internal 'body clock' is a complex mechanism that controls your periods of wakefulness and sleep, and it's generally 'set' according to the natural cycles of day/night, light/dark. When you work shifts this balance is disrupted, which is another of the leading causes of insomnia.


• Jet-lag
  For frequent fliers, all those miles and time zone changes often spell I-N-S-O-M-N-I-A. YOur circadian rythym (natural biological rythyms) get disrupted and your internal clock gets out of synch. For simple trips (1 or 2 time zones), your body usually readjusts within a couple of days, but if you're taking on mammoth trips, or crossing several time zones, it can take up to a week before you know 'which way is up'.


• Diet
  There are many foods and drinks that can significantly affect the quality of our sleep. Some are very beneficial, others steal our zzzz's. Knowing which ones to choose, and which to avoid, can really help you get a better nights' sleep.

Other causes of insomnia which is short-term in nature, may include too much caffeine, nicotine or alcohol, or environmental problems such as uncomfortable temperatures, too much noise/light, or sleeping in a strange bed/room.

Causes of Chronic Insomnia

In addition to all the above factors, the following things can also cause chronic sleep deprivation -

• Chronic Health Conditions
  As opposed to an acute illness or injury which may cause temporary sleepless nights, many chronic health conditions can leave you lying awake night after night. These include arthritis, asthma, heart problems, GERD (acid reflux disease), RLS (restless leg syndrome), fibromyalgia, high blood pressure, tinnitus (ringing in the ears) as well as diseases such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons. Chronic anxiety or depression can also lead to sleeplessness. Chronic pain resulting from illness or injury interferes with sleep and can lead to chronic insomnia. You can find lots of advice on living with/managing chronic pain (and how to help family members who are suffering in this way) at Families-And-Chronic-Pain.com


• Chronic Pain
  The pain and discomfort associated with chronic/severe illnesses such as arthritis or cancer, often contributes to long-term sleep loss. If chronic pain means that you can't sleep,learn how natural pain relief can help


• A Genetic Component
  The role genetics play in insomnia is an area of research that is being actively explored, but as yet there are few firm conclusions. However, as study conducted in the year 2000 found that approx 35% of primary insomniacs had a family history of insomnia. A later study increased that figure to 77%. Restless Legs Syndrome, sleepwalking and sleep-talking also seem to 'run in families', and sleep patterns tend to show strong similarities between family members.

The 'Big Picture'

There is also the 'vicious circle' phenomenon, where a brush with transient insomnia results in strong feelings of worry and distress. These feelings build on themselves and can remain long after the original trigger has faded. This residual anxiety then becomes closely associated with the bed/bedroom, even sleep itself, and a vicious circle of sleeplessness develops.

However, all is not lost! There are many insomnia tips/remedies and a whole host of treatment options available for all kinds of insomnia - from the occasional sleepless night to the most hardened chronic cases.

A good night's sleep plays such a vital role in your physical and emotional health that it's important to explore all the treatment options (including natural cures and insomnia medications of all kinds) available. It's also recommended that you see a physician if you're suffering from chronic insomnia.

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