What Are Some of the Common Causes of Insomnia?
There’s no single cause of insomnia and the clinical picture can often be rather complex and involve multiple factors. A lot of the time, an underlying condition affecting an individual will be worsened by a lack of quality sleep, triggering a complicated chain reaction. Such conditions range from asthma, allergies to acid reflux, kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, chronic pain among others.
Generally speaking, insomnia can be triggered by a state of mental or physical restlessness or hyper arousal, making it hard for you to wind down, no matter how tired you feel.
Unsurprisingly, stress is one of the main reported causes of the condition. Problems at home or in the workplace can really affect the quality of our sleep, which in turn affects our quality of life. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has also been linked to the condition.
Your lifestyle can also hugely impact how you sleep. Jet-lag and shift work can disrupt our natural circadian rhythm (responsible for regulating our sleep-wake cycle). Too much screen time, especially in the hours leading to bedtime, can overstimulate our brain, making it harder to wind down. Excessive consumption of caffeinated beverages can also have an impact on our quality of sleep. Medication, namely anti-depressants, constitute another factor.
