Common Triggers of Chronic Insomnia

If you find yourself unable to fall asleep as easily as you used to, or if you keep waking up during the night and have trouble going back to sleep, you might be suffering from a case of chronic insomnia. This can be a potentially serious sleeping disorder but before you start panicking, you should also know that you are not alone in this situation. In fact, this is quite a common condition, especially among adult women and the elderly. Chronic insomnia can occur due to a variety of reasons, and in order to find the proper treatment, you first need to trace the cause of your particular case.

Hereditary Factors

A significant percentage of all people suffering from chronic insomnia may have inherited the condition from their family. To be more descriptive, it is estimated that one out of three people who suffer from the disorder have mothers that also experience the same symptoms. Despite the staggering numbers though, the role of genetics in insomnia remains to be scientifically proven.

Psychiatric Disorders

Studies have shown that certain psychiatric disorders and mental trauma issues do affect a person’s chances of suffering from chronic insomnia. Usually, when the underlying condition is treated, the insomnia goes away as well.

Illnesses and Medications

When a person is suffering from a serious physical illness, such as cancer, heart problems, Alzheimer’s, gastric diseases, and so on, they are more prone to suffering from chronic insomnia as well. The physical injury, as well as the emotional trauma that accompanies this injury, can be a significant contributing factor to the development of insomnia. In some cases, however, it is the medication for the illness that may be causing the insomnia. Oftentimes, the insomnia goes away upon treatment of the illness but in some cases, a separate treatment for insomnia has to be undertaken as well.

Irregular Sleeping Patterns

If you don’t follow a regular sleeping schedule, it is very likely that you will be experiencing the symptoms of chronic insomnia before long. For instance, if you have a job that comes with frequently changing work shifts, or if you have a habit of staying up extremely late and depriving yourself of the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep at night, your body will eventually feel the stress and you will soon start exhibiting signs of insomnia.

Lifestyle and Diet

Besides the above mentioned causes, there are many other potential factors that can contribute to chronic insomnia. Among these are smoking, too much consumption of caffeine and the use of prohibited drugs. Even seemingly mundane things such as stress from work or bad childhood memories can also trigger insomnia. The important thing is to seek treatment as soon as you notice any symptoms in order to prevent the possible worsening of your condition.