Medical and Psychological Causes of Insomnia

Sep 16
12:16

2007

Tim Robertson

Tim Robertson

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Insomnia is defined as a difficulty in falling asleep during the night. There are many causes for this condition, although the physiological metabolism of the syndrome is not yet fully understood.

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Chemical imbalance in the brain causes restlessness and sleeplessness,Medical and Psychological Causes of Insomnia Articles which usually leads to great difficulties in functioning properly during the day.  Other causes such as anxiety, stress and depression, or mental diseases in general affect the mind and body so much that it can’t relax during the night and the prescription of medical treatment is needed. Chronic pains from arthritis for example, cancer, accident injuries and many others may also cause restlessness, making sleeping almost impossible.

Although medical treatment is usually advised if you suffer from those symptoms and from lack of sleep that keeps you from functioning during the day, there are a few other things you can do to keep your physical condition balanced and healthy. First, if you have the tendency for anxiety, depression or other kinds of mental sensitivity to the everyday coping with life, you should decrease or better yet stop completely the use of chemicals or stimulating substances such as caffeine. They add greatly to the restlessness of the body and may cause insomnia when added with your daily stress and worries.

Sudden changes in the daily life can also cause sleeplessness. Troubles at work, a relative’s death or illness, a voyage abroad and so on can give you troubles in falling asleep properly. But it should pass when you get accustomed to the change or if it passes by itself. If the condition is persistent, your doctor can advise you some medications.

Having a healthy, balanced diet, composed of at least 3 meals a day is necessary to keep your body balanced.  Against what you may think, skipping meals and assimilating fewer calories will only add to the stress of your body and can cause sleeplessness. Make sure you get a hearty breakfast, and a good lunch and dinner every day.  Many people find that having a healthy snack between meals, such as fruits or energy bars, can add to the welfare of your body and lessen the chances of insomnia. Exercise is also proved to strengthen the body and help it function normally, decreasing the chances of sleeplessness. Physical exercise increases the adrenaline concentration in your body, which gives you a “high” and energized feeling, so make sure you don’t exercise before bedtime.

Having the right activities before bedtime can also contribute to the effectiveness of your sleep. During the evening and coming closer to your bedtime, try to relax your body and your mind by reading something pleasant or listening to a soothing radio station. Learn to practice meditation or relaxation exercises, and avoid as much as you can to get into arguments and difficult decision-making before bedtime. It is also advisable not to watch TV before going to sleep. TV is distracting the mind and giving you many times stuff to think about that can keep you from sleeping properly.  A few people manage to fall asleep while having the TV as a background sound, but there are minorities. Rest in a dark room to give some relief for your eyes and help you “get in the sleeping mood”, or find the best light for your own relaxation. Some people prefer to have a bit of light around, but only you know what is the best environment for you to rest, so give yourself this treat!

It is believed that insomnia and other sleeping disorders can be genetically inherited through family members. You should check your family history for any of those conditions before you consult a doctor. The findings may help you get the right treatment, by medications, therapy or simple exercises.

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