Insomnia: Causes and symptoms
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More about Insomnia:
Definition Causes and symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Alternative treatments Prevention Resources |
Transient insomnia is often caused by a temporary situation in a person's life, such as an argument with a loved one, a brief medical illness, or jet lag. When the situation is resolved or the precipitating factor disappears, the condition goes away, usually without medical treatment.
Chronic insomnia usually has different causes, and there may be more than one. These include:
- a medical condition or its treatment, including sleep apnea
- use of substances such as caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine
- psychiatric conditions such as mood or anxiety disorders
- stress, such as sadness caused by the loss of a loved one or a job
- disturbed sleep cycles caused by a change in work shift
- sleep-disordered breathing, such as snoring
- periodic jerky leg movements (nocturnal myoclonus), which happen just as the individual is falling asleep
- repeated nightmares or panic attacks during sleep
Another cause is excessive worrying about whether or not a person will be able to go to sleep, which creates so much anxiety that the individual's bedtime rituals and behavior actually trigger insomnia. The more one worries about falling asleep, the harder it becomes. This is called psychophysiological insomnia.
Symptoms of insomniaPeople who have insomnia do not start the day refreshed from a good night's sleep. They are tired. They may have difficulty falling asleep, and commonly lie in bed tossing and turning for hours. Or the individual may go to sleep without a problem but wakes in the early hours of the morning and is either unable to go back to sleep, or drifts into a restless unsatisfying sleep. This is a common symptom in the elderly and in those suffering from depression. Sometimes sleep patterns are reversed, and the individual has difficulty staying awake during the day and takes frequent naps. The sleep at night is fitful and frequently interrupted.
— Donald G. Barstow, RN
