Insomnia

• You have difficulty falling asleep at night.
• You feel sleepy during the daytime on a regular basis. You also feel tired and sluggish all the time.
• You have trouble concentrating or paying attention. Sometimes you may start to forget things as well. As a result, you see yourself making errors more often.
• Your have become irritable and your tolerance level has reduced. 
• You experience regular headache or stomach ache.
• You start to worry about sleeping a lot.

• Stress: Stress is a common cause of insomnia. It could be related to everyday problems such as work pressure, concerns about money or health. The stress could also be due to a major event such as the death of a loved one, divorce, or loss of job.
• Other mental health problems: People suffering from depression and anxiety disorders, as well as other mental health problems, may have difficulty sleeping.
• Medical conditions: People who experience pain or discomfort due to a physical illness, or have breathing problems such as asthma, can be affected with insomnia. Many other medical conditions such as cancer, heart disease or even simple conditions such as allergies and acid reflux, can cause insomnia.
• Medication: Insomnia can be the side-effect of many prescription drugs. Many painkillers and over-the-counter medicines for a common cold or congestion, contain caffeine which disrupts your sleep cycle. Antidepressants, blood pressure medication and medicines for heart problems can also cause insomnia.
• Alcohol and other substances: Alcohol, caffeine, nicotine and other narcotic drugs are also known to cause insomnia. Whereas caffeine limits your ability to fall asleep, alcohol and drugs are known to cause frequent awakening during sleep.
• Poor sleep routine and environment: An irregular sleep routine is not healthy in the long run and can cause insomnia. Also, sleeping in an uncomfortable environment with too much light and noise, decreases the quality of your sleep.
• Life events: If you work in a night shift, or if you are transferred to a different time zone, your body might not adjust to the change and you may have difficulty in falling asleep.
• Aging: As people grow older, they are more susceptible to get insomnia. Your sleep patterns may change as you start to get tired earlier in the day. Also, reduced physical activity can reduce the quality of your sleep. You are also more likely to develop medical conditions that disturb your sleep.

Insomnia can severely affect the quality of your life but it is treatable. If you have been experiencing trouble with your sleep and it is affecting your daily life, then you should meet a doctor regarding this problem.

Treatment for insomnia usually focuses on identifying the underlying problem that causes insomnia. The doctor may prescribe suitable medication and certain behavioural therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy to treat insomnia. 

Insomnia can cause severe distress to a person and they are likely to grow irritable and frustrated. It is important that you remain patient with them and try to help them with their problem. Talk to them about their problem; if a worry has been affecting their sleep, talking about it might help them sleep better. If your snoring or alternate sleep routine is causing a disturbance to your partner's sleep, consider sleeping separately for a while. If the problem is severe, you should talk to them about a seeing a doctor.

Insomnia can adversely affect your daily life but there are some adjustments you can make to help you get better sleep. Try to exercise and be active during the day. This usually helps you get a deeper sleep so that you are well-rested. Limit your caffeine intake and avoid alcohol and nicotine as they disrupt your sleep. Try to make your sleeping arrangements comfortable and do some relaxation before you go to sleep. If you are not able to manage your daily activities due to a lack of sleep, you should consult a doctor.