Possible Causes Of Insomnia

What causes insomnia? While all insomnia looks the same - you can't sleep, which is how this condition got it's name, being Latin for "lack of sleep" - it can have a number of different root causes. Once you've found the cause of your insomnia, you will be able to do something about it.

Insomnia, if left untreated, can cause major physical problems. Sleep is when our body repairs itself, and chronic lack of sleep causes a run-down immune system, which means that someone who suffers from insomnia is more prone to a number of illnesses. Lack of sleep also affects mood - but anyone who's had a bad night probably already knows how cranky they get - and it can affect your metabolism, so people who suffer from sleep disorders can also have a problem with body weight. Insomnia can also be dangerous: the experts say that driving when tired is as dangerous as driving drunk, if not more so.

What causes insomnia? The following are all possibilities:

Disrupted sleep environment: If you're used to sleeping in a particular position with a particular person in a particular room, any change to this environment can lead to insomnia. If your usual bedmate is away, it can be difficult to nod off, and not just because you're worried about him/her: it comes from an out-of-the-ordinary sleep environment. The only cure for this sort of insomnia is to get things back to normal or, if that isn't possible, to adjust to the new circumstances.

Diet: We all know that indigestion can cause insomnia - and if we do manage to drop off to sleep, indigestion can also give us bad dreams. It's wise to avoid eating large amounts shortly before bedtime (a snack is OK), but the main evening meal should be earlier in the evening, at least two hours before bedtime, if not more. Too much caffeine in the diet can also be a root cause of many sleep disorders: it's best if you knock off the caffeine after 3:00 pm (if you're very self-disciplined or desperate) and definitely not after 5:30 pm. A change in diet can help fix insomnia, which is very simply. A good supper before bed would be milk and bananas, as these both stimulate the brain to produce a sleep-inducing hormone.

Adrenaline: The body produces adrenaline to fire you up and make you more alert. It stands to reason that anything that causes your body to produce this hormone will also cause insomnia. TV programs, movies and many computer programs often stimulate adrenaline, so these should be avoided before bed. Oddly enough, exciting books don't seem to have quite the same effect, possibly because your brain has to do a lot of the work during reading and therefore "knows" that there is no danger and thus no need for adrenaline. Also avoid arguments or intense discussions prior to going to bed, as these also raise the body's adrenaline levels and cause insomnia.

Stress and worry: Stress and worry are behind the majority of sleep disorders seen by specialists, mostly because both of these involve chronic exposure to insomnia-causing adrenaline. To get out of this pattern, create the habit of purposefully slowing down, relaxing and unwinding just before going to bed. You may need to try aromatherapy, a hot bath, establishing a set bed-time routine or relaxation techniques. Try to avoid bringing work or money worries into the bedroom - if you reserve your bedroom for relaxing things like sleeping, making love and spending time on yourself. Above all, don't worry about your insomnia - this causes a vicious cycle, where worry causes lack of sleep, which causes more worry, which causes insomnia and so on.

Physical problems: Sometimes, insomnia can have a physical root cause. These causes of sleep disorders are best dealt with by a specialist. Some sleep disorders, such as sleep apnoea, can even require surgery (in some cases) to correct it.