If you have ever had trouble getting a good night's sleep I'm sure you have asked yourself what are the reasons for insomnia?  It is one of the worst feelings in the world to be lying in bed just wishing that you could fall asleep.  You know that if you don't get a decent night's sleep you will not be able to function at 100% the next day and this worrying often makes it even harder to fall asleep.  Insomnia affects up to 30% of the population every year, so there is a good chance that you or someone you are close to has dealt with insomnia.  The reasons for insomnia vary between individuals, but can all be summed up into three categories:  psychological issues, physical issues, and short term changes.  Knowing the reason you have insomnia can be the first step to finding a solution. 

One of the easiest reasons for insomnia to identify is the physical reason.  There is something physically wrong with your body, and that leads to sleeping problems.  Sleep apnea is very common cause of insomnia.  Sleep apnea is a condition where you repeatedly stop breathing for a small amount of time during your sleep.  Sometimes this causes the person to wake up, and other times the person will just have a non restful night of sleep.  Both of these conditions can have insomnia as a symptom.  Physical pain is another common reason for people to have insomnia.  If you have trouble falling asleep, or staying asleep because something on your body hurts, you have a physical pain caused insomnia.  Another physical reason that causes insomnia is decreased melatonin.  Melatonin is a required hormone for the sleeping process in humans.  People produce less and less melatonin as they age.  Women can also experience insomnia from other hormonal changes including: pregnancy, menopause, and the menstrual cycle.  Other physical reasons for insomnia include the use of drugs.  Any use of caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol can be one of the reasons for insomnia.  When a person quits using any addictive drug (cocaine, tobacco, caffeine, amphetamines, etc..) there is a good chance that the person will suffer from withdrawal insomnia.  This is a temporary insomnia, and probably worth going through to be rid of the addiction to the drug.

Depression and Anxiety can both cause long term sleeping problems.  Depression is well known for being a leading cause for chronic insomnia.  A majority of people diagnosed with clinical depression report insomnia as one condition.  Anxiety makes intuitive sense as a reason for insomnia.  When you suffer from anxiety your heart rate increases and the body is on a heightened state of alertness.  It makes sense that it would be harder to fall asleep when your body is ready for fight or flight.  Stress is a big reason for insomnia.  One thing to consult with your doctor about is the possible exacerbating of the insomnia effects by taking anti depressants.  Some anti depressants are known to cause insomnia, so be sure to consult your doctor about how to deal with both issues in a complimentary way. 

There are many reasons a person may suffer from short term insomnia.  When your environment changes that can have a profound effect on the quality of your sleep.  One big reason for insomnia is traveling.  When you travel, you will almost always be sleeping in an unfamiliar situation and this can lead to difficulty falling asleep.  Jet lag is another travel related issue that can cause insomnia.  Some people can barely stay awake when suffering from jet lag, and some people find it near impossible to fall asleep.  Short term stress can also affect the quality of a person's sleep.  It is very easy to lose sleep over something we are worrying about.  These short term changes should reverse themselves within a couple of days if you take away the reason for the insomnia in the first place.  When you get back to your own bedroom, on your own schedule, you will find a peaceful night of rest easier to come by.