Is it hard for you to fall asleep or stay asleep at night? Maybe thoughts of work, family, or finances keep you up when you should be catching ZZZs. Or a physical problem, like an illness or medication, could be the reason.
If you struggle to get enough sleep, you aren’t alone. Studies show nearly 30% of adults in the United States have some form of insomnia.
But how do you know if your sleep issues are a short-term concern or a persistent problem?
Is It Chronic or Temporary?
Chronic insomnia means you have symptoms at least three times a week for at least 3 months. This type of disorder is a constant difficulty that disrupts your daily life.
You might have insomnia if you:
- Can’t fall asleep
- Wake up frequently in the middle of the night
- Can’t go back to sleep
- Notice daytime fatigue, mood changes, or problems with concentration and memory
If your sleep issues last less than 3 months, you may have short-term insomnia.
For many people with short-term sleep disorders, symptoms gradually get better.
Sometimes, these temporary episodes are due to stressful life events, such as the death of a loved one, a divorce, or job loss. An illness or change in routine are other possible causes. Symptoms will usually improve once the issue resolves, but short-term insomnia can occasionally develop into a more lasting condition.Both adults and children can have short-term and chronic insomnia. The conditions are more common in women than in men.
Possible Causes
Some common causes of sleep troubles include:
- Stress: Traumatic or stressful events can keep your brain active at night and make it difficult to fall asleep.
- A change in schedule: Your symptoms might be worse when you travel or change your normal sleep routine.
- Medications: Certain medicines, like antidepressants and blood pressure drugs, may disrupt sleep.
- Mental health disorders: People with anxiety or depression are more likely to suffer insomnia.
- Other health conditions: Many other medical conditions are linked to insomnia, including diabetes, cancer, asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), overactive thyroid, Alzheimer’s disease, and more. Also, sleep-related disorders, like sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome (RLS), can keep you up at night.
- Alcohol, nicotine, or caffeine: These substances could be to blame for a bad night’s sleep.
- Nighttime snacking: If you eat a heavy meal right before bed, you may have trouble falling asleep.
- Bad sleep habits: Use of computers, smartphones, or other devices before bed may disrupt your sleep cycle. Also, a poor nighttime schedule or an unpleasant sleep environment could lead to sleep difficulties.