Cause 8. Insomnia: When Sleep Becomes an Elusive Dream
Insomnia is a common sleep disorder characterized by persistent difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or both, despite having the chance to do so. As a result, insomnia leads to unrefreshed sleep and can cause daytime sleepiness and a host of other symptoms such as irritability, mood changes, difficulty focusing, general tiredness, and even gastrointestinal symptoms in some cases.
Insomnia can be acute, lasting for a few days or weeks, often triggered by stress or a traumatic event. On the other hand, chronic insomnia lasts for several months or longer. Chronic insomnia can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness as individuals might try to catch up on lost sleep during the day, thereby disrupting their normal sleep-wake cycle.
Many factors can contribute to insomnia, including stress, poor sleep habits, an irregular work or travel schedule, eating too much late in the evening, or mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety. Chronic insomnia could also be linked to medical conditions like heart disease, asthma, arthritis, or neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. Certain medications can also contribute to insomnia. (8)
