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Causes of Insomnia
The causes of insomnia vary from
person to person and can be broken into three
categories: Physical, Psychological and Temporary. In
some cases there is a combination of factors causing
insomnia.
Physical causes such as allergies,
asthma, heart disease and high blood pressure are
common medical problems which can disturb sleep.
During normal sleep the body reduces in temperature,
this aids the acceleration into sleep.
It is common for women to suffer
from restless and sleepless nights during menstruation
because the body’s temperature increases. It is also
why during hot summer nights people often complain of
sleepless nights.
A cool room is important for a good
nights sleep. In fact having a cool shower in the
summer can accelerate the drift into sleep. Another
option during the winter is to have a hot bath an hour
or so before bed. Although the initial rise in
temperature invigorates the body and mind, the drop in
temperature as the body cools accelerates the drift
into sleep.
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in
which the sufferer temporarily stops breathing during
sleep. Physical pain such as a backache or even a
headache can often be the culprit. However, often
these pains are the result of psychological causes.
Psychological causes such as
anxiety, is a common problem. We all suffer anxiety
from time to time. Triggers can be from financial
worries, relationships or work related issues. We may
experience feelings of helplessness, tension, fear,
nervousness and worry.
Stress is another common problem
which we all consider to be part of daily life.
However it’s important to deal with both anxiety and
stress quickly and effectively. Ignoring the body’s
signal that we are under too much stress or anxiety is
unhealthy for the body and mind.
Stressful experiences and negative
reactions to those experiences can become ingrained
into our psyche. These factors can lead to negative
behavior patterns which are difficult to change and
break out of, especially when we can not learn to cope
with life’s stresses.
Stress is an
overproduction of
adrenalin and other hormones, when these hormones are
not expelled quick enough we may experience a spike.
This can cause damage to our mental and physical state
of being. For us to expel these stress hormones we
need to allow the body to engage in strenuous
activity, this is not easy if you’re stuck in front of
a desk for 9 hours of the day.
Some people wake up and feel that
they are not in control of their thoughts and
emotions, and they might wake up in a bad mood, with
negative thoughts about themselves and the rest of
their day. What we all need to realize is that we do
have control of our thoughts and emotions.
Too much stress can lead to
psychosomatic illnesses. Depression is often the
result of too much stress and anxiety. It’s
characterized by feelings and emotions of
hopelessness, sadness and despair. A high proportion
of people who suffer from depression tend to
experience frequent sleeplessness.
There are also temporary factors
which can cause insomnia. It’s common to experience a
few nights or even a few weeks of insomnia when the
body or mind experiences irregularity and requires
adjustment. Jet lag, working long or night shifts can
disrupt the body’s normal sleep cycle.
Moving house or experiencing
traumatic events can also cause temporary
sleeplessness, although on some occasions it is
possible to
develop insomnia if the sufferer is unable
to adjust quickly.
These are just some of the more
common causes of insomnia I’ve mentioned. If you would
like FREE tips and advice on how to deal with insomnia
effectively, please sign up for my FREE Newsletter.
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