‘A general consensus has developed from population-based studies that approximately 30% of a variety of adult samples drawn from different countries report one or more of the symptoms of insomnia: difficulty initiating sleep, difficulty maintaining sleep, waking up too early, and in some cases, nonrestorative or poor quality of sleep’ (Roth). Lack of proper sleep causes poor performance, slowed reaction time, and increased risk of disease (‘Insomnia,’ Mayo Clinic). Many reported cases of insomnia are secondary, meaning that the symptoms are a byproduct of some other issue. The most common factors of insomnia are related to one’s lifestyle, mental health, or physical condition.
Lifestyle and circumstance majorly affect sleep patterns. For example, those who frequently ingest certain drugs, such as alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine, are more likely to exhibit symptoms of insomnia. These drugs are stimulants, which means that ingesting them too close to bedtime can result in sleeping troubles (‘Insomnia,’ Mayo Clinic). The disruption of one’s circadian rhythm will also cause sleeping difficulties. Those who travel to different time zones may experience jet lag, a temporary case of insomnia. Similarly, ‘individuals who work the night shift commonly experience insomnia’ (Bonnet and Arand). When insomnia is the result of faulty lifestyle habits, it is usually temporary and preventable. The same cannot be said for those who experience sleeping difficulties due to mental illness.
‘[Secondary insomnia] often is a symptom of an emotional, neurological, or other medical or sleep disorder’ (‘Insomnia,’ National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute). Insomnia is a common symptom of various mental illnesses, such as clinical depression and anxiety disorders. It can be linked to stress, as well. This is because ‘high levels of arousal associated with racing thoughts, worries, or rumination may delay sleep onset (‘Sleep and Depression’). Approximately half of adults with insomnia also struggle with some type of mental health condition (Abbot). While insomnia caused by mental illness is usually chronic, insomnia caused by physical discomfort can be either chronic or temporary.
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Pain and discomfort often lead to sleeping problems. Those who have chronic physical conditions, such as arthritis or heartburn, typically have trouble falling or staying asleep, and ‘issues that increase the need to urinate during the night ―such as prostate or bladder problems ― can disrupt sleep’ (‘Insomnia,’ Mayo Clinic). Individuals struggling with pain or discomfort often find themselves tossing and turning during the night, unable to sleep properly. ‘Secondary insomnia can also be caused by some medicines. These include asthma medicines, allergy or cold medicines, and certain heart and blood pressure medicines’ (‘Insomnia,’ FamilyDoctor.org).
Insomnia is a sleeping condition with a plethora of causes. Lifestyle habits, mental health, and physical conditions cooperate to influence how well someone sleeps. Since these various factors work together, every case is different. What cures one person’s insomnia may not work the same way for everyone else. It is good practice to take all of these factors into consideration whenever sleeping problems persist.
