The inability to sleep is a frustrating, troubling and often traumatic condition. It slowly wears a person down, increases tensions in daily life, negatively affects work performance and concentration, and puts strains on all levels of inter-personal relationships.
The reasons for insomnia are many, and it is important to do basic research on your own specific conditions before deciding upon a cure. insomniaasleep.com will help you in this research and in finding a cure.
Read through the breakdown lists below to pinpoint your condition.
- Types
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Difficulty staying asleep
- Broken sleep
- Waking up too early
- Causes (see details below)
- External conditions
- Internal conditions
- Long or short term conditions
- Symptoms
- Poor concentration and focus
- Difficulty with memory
- Impaired motor coordination (physically uncoordinated)
- Irritability and impaired social interaction
- Emotional instability
- Impaired judgement
Insomnia caused by short term external conditions
- Life events
- Such as work problems, financial stress, relationship problems. These can cause fear, stress, anxiety, and emotional or mental tension.
- Disturbances of the circadian rhythm
- Disturbances of the body clock such as shift work and jet lag. These can cause an inability to sleep at some times of the day and excessive sleepiness at other times of the day.
- Poor sleep hygiene
- Such as noise, vibrations, napping, inappropriate use of stimulants, e.g., caffeine, nicotine, alcohol
- Physical exercise
- Exercise-induced insomnia usually caused by exercising too close to bed time
- Child rearing
- Crying babies or children can cause regular waking and lack of sleep
- Foot cramping
- Disruptive partner
- A bed partner with loud snoring or periodic leg movements may also impair your ability to get a good night’s sleep
Insomnia caused by long term external conditions
- Sleep apnea
- Abnormal breathing during sleep, which is caused by obstructed airflow (usually resulting in snoring), low breathing effort or a combination of both
- Abnormal breathing during sleep, which is caused by obstructed airflow (usually resulting in snoring), low breathing effort or a combination of both
- Pain
- An injury or condition that causes pain can prevent an individual from finding a comfortable position in which to fall asleep, and can in addition cause awakening
- An injury or condition that causes pain can prevent an individual from finding a comfortable position in which to fall asleep, and can in addition cause awakening
- Medical conditions
- Such as hyperthyroidism and rheumatoid arthritis
- Such as hyperthyroidism and rheumatoid arthritis
Insomnia caused by short term internal conditions
- Abuse of over-the counter or prescription sleep aids
- (sedative or depressant drugs) can produce rebound insomnia
- Use of psychoactive drugs
- e.g., stimulants, including certain medications, herbs, caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, aripiprazole, MDMA, modafinil, or excessive alcohol intake
- Withdrawal from depressant drugs
- Such as opioids and benzodiazepines
- Hormone shifts
- Such as those that precede menstruation and those during menopause
Insomnia caused by long term internal conditions
- Light sleeper vs. heavy sleeper
- Parasomnias
- This includes:
- Disruptive sleep events such as nightmares, sleepwalking, night terrors, violent behavior while sleeping
- REM behavior disorder, in which the physical body moves in response to events within dreams
- This includes:
- Mental disorders
- Such as bipolar disorder, clinical depression, generalized anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, dementia, or ADHD
- Restless Legs Syndrome
- Which can cause sleep onset insomnia due to the discomforting sensations felt and the need to move the legs or other body parts to relieve these sensations
- Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD)
- Which occurs during sleep and can cause arousals that the sleeper is unaware of
- Sleep anxiety
- Fear of falling asleep
Finding a cure for insomnia
Because insomnia can be caused by everything from the physical to the physiological to the psychological condition of a person, there are a variety of treatments and cures. Read through the insomnia categories listed on this website to understand more about your particular condition.