What is Insomnia?
Insomnia is a symptom, not a stand-alone diagnosis or a disease. By definition, insomnia is “difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep or both or the perception of poor quality sleep..
Causes:
- Psychological causes
- Physical causes
- Temporary events or factors
Psychological Causes
- Anxiety
- Stress.
- Depression
Physical causes
- Hormonal changes in women.
- Medical conditions. These include allergies, arthritis, asthma, heart disease, high blood pressure, hyperthyroidism, and Parkinson’s disease.
- Pain. Pain and discomfort from a medical illness or injury often interfere with sleep.
- Genetics.
Temporary Events Or Factors
- Adjustment sleep disorder. This form of sleeplessness is a reaction to change or stress. It may be caused by a traumatic event such as an illness or loss of a loved one, or a minor event such as a change in the weather or an argument with someone.
- Jet lag
- Working the night shift or long shifts
- Medications. Insomnia can be a side effect of various medications, both prescription and over-the-counter.
- Overuse of caffeine and alcohol.
- Environmental noise, extreme temperatures, or a change in a person’s surrounding environment.
Symptoms:
- Poor concentration and focus
- Difficulty with memory
- Impaired motor coordination (being uncoordinated)
- Irritability and impaired social interaction
- Motor vehicle accidents because of fatigued, sleep-deprived drivers
- Stress (mental, emotional, situational, etc),
- Difficulty concentrating during the day
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