If you are reading this blog, you most likely have or have had trouble sleeping! You are in the right place for more insight on why it occurs and how to handle it. We will cover what insomnia is, what causes it, its symptoms, and how to treat it.
What is Insomnia?
Insomnia is a difficulty or complete inability to fall asleep or stay asleep for long. Those who suffer with insomnia are not satisfied with their sleep patterns and may find themselves experiencing:
- Fatigue
- Low energy
- Difficulty in concentrating
- Mood swings
- Depression
- Lower performance in school or work
There are two types of insomnia: Primary and Secondary.
Primary Insomnia is when the person just has trouble falling asleep without a deeper health issue being the trigger.
Secondary Insomnia is when the sufferer experiences sleep problems because of an underlying health condition like asthma, diabetes, depression, body pains, etc. Consuming drugs/alcohol or psychotropic substances can also result in insomnia.
Insomnia can vary on how long it lasts and how often it happens. Based on that, it can either be short-term and last only a few days, or last long-term which leads to chronic insomnia cases.
Causes of Insomnia
There are actually many causes! Some are physical, whereas others are psychological. For example, a stressful event like a fight with a friend or the death of a loved one can trigger insomnia symptoms.
As well, environmental discomforts like sleeping in a foreign bed in a hot room or unfamiliar noise can mess up our ability to sleep. Some medicines like ones that alter mood or help keep cholesterol under control, can also induce insomnia symptoms.
In chronic insomnia cases, the causes are generally are anxiety, depression, stress, and body pains. Besides failing to fall asleep, other symptoms you may experience are sleepiness throughout the day, fatigue, irritability, and problems focusing at work or school.
What You Can Do to Lessen Your Insomnia Symptoms?
Of course, the first step is to treat the underlying cause(s) and eliminate all the things that make you struggle to fall asleep. Try to go to sleep at the same time each day to avoid any naps throughout the day and only use your bedroom for resting at night.
Try not to consume any coffee, chocolate or tea that contains caffeine just before you go to bed too. It’s tempting to think about work or other stressful matters, but this is not the right time to do it! If you want to keep your mind happily distracted and relaxed while staying off your phone, try reading a book.
Finally, get yourself comfortable and remove any possible distractions like your phone/laptop or noise and heat. Make sure your bedding/pillows are comfortable and make you feel at ease so you can have a better night’s sleep. Sweet dreams!