Sleep difficulty is a very common problem that can be caused by numerous factors:
Anxiety and Stress
Sleep difficulty can arise when someone is experiencing prolonged stress or
feelings of anxiety.
Uncomfortable Sleep Environment
The best environment for sleep is quiet, cool, and silent. Some people might
sleep better with a little white noise, such as a fan. The room needs to be
a comfortable temperature, and the bed needs to be of the right firmness for
the individual.
Too Much Activity
Being physically or intellectually stimulated a few hours before bedtime can
make it harder to fall asleep. Exercising less than three hours before bedtime
can disturb sleep, as can reading serious and thought-provoking material.
Jet Lag
When a person travels across several time zones, they may experience jet lag.
Jet lag disrupts normal sleep patterns, making it difficult to get a restful
sleep while traveling.
Depression
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Those experiencing depression often find it difficult to sleep. They may be
so distracted by the things that are bothering them that they cannot “shut
off” their minds and fall asleep.
Stimulants
Caffeine, nicotine, sugar, and drugs such as cocaine can seriously impact
an individual’s ability to sleep. These substances have stimulating effects
that can make it very difficult to relax. Some people may even experience actual
nicotine withdrawals a few hours after falling asleep, which may cause restless
sleep or wakefulness.
Illness
Medical conditions such as arthritis, acid reflux, bladder infection, heart
disease, and other chronic pain issues can disturb a person’s ability
to sleep.
Napping
Taking naps during the day can make it more difficult to fall asleep at night.
This can become a cycle when a person doesn’t get enough sleep during
the night, takes a nap, and then has another sleepless night due to the naps.
Disruptions in Sleep Cycle: Staying up much later than usual and then sleeping
in the next day can throw an individual’s sleep cycle out of balance,
making it more difficult to fall asleep at a normal hour.
Alcoholism
Many people think that alcohol helps them sleep. While alcohol often makes
a person “pass out,” it ultimately disrupts the sleep cycle, robbing
an individual of a restful full-night’s sleep. If a person decides to
discontinue drinking after long-term regular consumption, this can also cause
sleep problems as the body goes through the anxiety of withdrawals.
Restless Leg Syndrome
Restless leg syndrome is a disorder characterized by sensations in the legs
that cause an individual discomfort unless the legs are moved. While these
sensations can occur throughout the day, they are most likely to happen shortly
after going to bed. Usually the individual with restless leg syndrome feels
the urge to move the legs around in their sleep, but these sensations can also
become so strong that the sufferer must get up and walk around.
Aging
As people age, they often experience sleep difficulties. This could be for
number of reasons including hormonal changes that can effect circadian rhythm,
increased sensitivity to physical discomfort, and the fact that the elderly
tend to suffer from chronic pain conditions more often.
Because there are so many different possible reasons for sleep difficulty,
it is important to see a doctor to help determine which one pertains to each
individual’s situation if the problems persist to the point of seriously
affecting quality of life. Long-term, chronic sleep difficulty can also be
a sign of a much more serious problem which may need treatment as well.
Author: Nan Little
Website: http://www.insightjournal.com/
Do you have trouble falling asleep? Do you frequently wake during the
night, or, do you wake up too early in the morning? Does a lack of
sleep affect your focus and ability to concentrate during the day?
These symptoms indicate that you may be experiencing sleep difficulty.
Find out more about sleep problems here.
What are the steps to diagnosing a sleep disorder? Find out what your
healthcare professional will need to learn in order to determine
whether you just experience occasional sleeplessness or if you have a
serious sleep disorder.
What type of person develops a sleep disorder? Learn more about what
researchers have discovered, including temperament and triggers, the
‘gender factor’ as well as family history.
There are several different types of insomnia that a person can
experience. Acute insomnia, chronic insomnia and primary insomnia share
similar characteristics, but they are each caused by different factors.
Find out more about the individual types of insomnia here.
Individuals who have been diagnosed with insomnia have treatment
options available to them. Creating a sleep schedule and practicing
good sleep hygiene are often recommended first. Medication to treat
insomnia and prescription treatments for secondary conditions such as
anxiety and depression are also available. Complementary and
Alternative Medicines (CAM) are available for sleep difficulty as well.
Have your say! Comment in our forums.
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