BETTER-SLEEP

Insomnia is simply the inability to fall asleep easily or not being able to stay asleep. Sleep difficulties that last for longer than a month and affect daytime functioning are generally labeled insomnia. Nearly 50% of adult Americans report that they have had insomnia at some time. Women are 40% more likely to suffer from insomnia than men. Insomnia has many different causes both physical and psychological.

Some of the physical causes of insomnia are chronic pain, restless leg syndrome, medications, hormonal imbalances, and environmental issues. Chronic pain and restless leg syndrome are only two of the disorders that can cause insomnia. Disorders such as these usually need medication to treat the insomnia if the underlying cause cannot be corrected. Many anti-depressants can cause insomnia, if you can trace the insomnia back to when you started taking the anti-depressant talk to your doctor and pharmacist about possible a substitution for the medication. An imbalance in the hormones that regulate sleep and hormonal imbalances due to menopause are both factors to consider if you are having difficulty sleeping. Finally we have environmental issues, noisy neighbors, uncomfortable bed, and sleep time during daylight hours.

Psychological issues that may cause sleeping difficulties are depression, stress, anger and post traumatic stress disorder. Depression is a common cause of insomnia and insomnia is a common cause of depression. Try to discover which was experienced first the, depression or the insomnia, whichever came first is what needs to be addressed first. Stress is one of the number one causes of sleep problems. Many times it is difficult to let go of the stresses of the day so that we can go to sleep and not repeatedly wake up during the night. Anger is closely associated with stress, often times we are not angry with someone else but with ourselves. Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome should be treated by a doctor, treatment may include treating the insomnia as well.

Often insomnia has both a physical as well as a psychological cause. Are you depressed because your mattress is uncomfortable and you cannot afford a new one? If you are not sure what is causing your insomnia, which is often the case, keep in mind that curing the insomnia does not necessarily mean the cause is known. Besides, you will figure it out after a good night’s sleep.