Insomnia is defined as the inability to fall asleep, and it can involve waking frequently during the night, with difficulty falling back to sleep, or having unrefreshing sleep. There are no guidelines for the number of hours slept or how long it takes to fall asleep that define insomnia. Those who suffer from insomnia may have excess tiredness during the day, lack of energy, difficulty concentrating and irritability.
Insomnia comes in 3 types: transient (short-term), intermittent (on and off) and chronic (constant). Transient insomnia lasts anywhere from a single night to a few weeks. If these episodes of transient insomnia happen from time to time, the insomnia is said to be intermittent. Chronic insomnia happens on most night and lasts a month or more.
Speaking in general terms, insomnia is caused by two types of factors: psychological and physical.
Psychological Causes:
Anxiety – feelings of tension, apprehension, helplessness, fear and uncertainty. Any of a variety of factors can cause anxiety and induce insomnia.
Stress – the ability to cope with emotional, physical, social and economic changes.
Depression – mood disturbance characterized by sadness, despair and discouragement.
Physical Causes:
Hormonal changes – particularly in women. Premenstrual syndrome, menstruation, pregnancy and menopause are all possible contributors to insomnia.
Decreased melatonin – low levels of melatonin, a sleep-controlling hormone, can contribute to insomnia. After age 60, the body produces very little melatonin.
Medical conditions – allergies, arthritis, asthma, heart disease, high blood pressure, Parkinson’s disease and thyroid problems can all trigger insomnia.
Pain – unmanaged pain from illness, injury or pre-existing conditions can interfere with sleep.
Insomnia can also come from temporary events in everyday life including:
Jet Lag – traveling across time zones, causing your body to be out of sync with local time;
Overuse of alcohol and/or caffeine – stimulants such as caffeine can interfere with the ability to fall sleep. Alcohol prior to sleeping may cause relaxation and initial sleep, but over time the sleep will be fragmented and lead to wakefulness.
Working long/night shifts – working long shifts or night shifts may make adjusting to new sleep patterns difficult.
Environmental factors – noise, extreme temperatures and new surroundings can cause insomnia.
Transient and intermittent insomnia are most common and are usually caused by very few factors from the given list. Chronic insomnia is complex and results, most often, from a combination of factors including physical and psychological conditions.
Depression is the most common cause of chronic insomnia. However, chronic insomnia is prevalent in people who abuse substances such as caffeine and alcohol.
Insomnia can be a sign of an undiagnosed medical or psychological condition. If insomnia persists for more than a few weeks, it is best to see your doctor for a physical exam.
Insomnia can refer to the inability to sleep well either intermittently or over a long period of time.
There are many reasons people suffer from insomnia, and these reasons may be psychological or physical.
If you suffer from chronic insomnia, you should see a doctor.