Causes of insomnia
Insomnia can be triggered by a number of possible factors, including worry and stress, underlying health conditions, and alcohol or drug use.
Sometimes it's not possible to identify a clear cause.
Stress and anxiety
Some people develop insomnia after a stressful event, such as a bereavement, problems at work or financial difficulties.
The problem can continue long after the event has passed because they start to associate going to bed with being awake. This develops into an anxiety about sleep itself.
Having more general worries, for example about work, family or health, are also likely to keep you awake at night. These can cause your mind to start racing while you lie in bed, which can be made worse by also worrying about not being able to sleep.
A poor sleep routine and sleeping environment
You may struggle to get a good night's sleep if you go to bed at inconsistent times, nap during the day, or don't 'wind down' before going to bed.
A poor sleeping environment can also contribute to insomnia, for instance an uncomfortable bed, or a bedroom that's too bright, noisy, hot or cold.
Lifestyle factors
Drinking alcohol before going to bed, and taking certain recreational drugs can affect your sleep, as can stimulants such as nicotine (found in cigarettes) and caffeine (found in tea, coffee and energy drinks). These should be avoided in the evenings.
Changes to your sleeping patterns can also contribute to insomnia, for example because of shiftwork or changing time zone after a long-haul flight (jet lag).
Mental health conditions
Underlying mental health problems can often affect a person's sleeping patterns, including:
mood disorders –such as depression orbipolar disorderanxiety disorders –such as generalised anxiety, panic disorder or post-traumatic stress disorderpsychotic disorders –such asschizophreniaPhysical health conditions
Insomnia can also be caused by underlying physical conditions, including:
heart conditions – such as angina or heart failurerespiratory conditions –such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) orasthmaneurological conditions –such asAlzheimer's disease or Parkinson's diseasehormonal problems – such as anoveractive thyroidjoint or muscle problems – such as arthritisproblems with the genital or urinary organs–such as urinary incontinence or anenlarged prostatesleep disorders – such as such as snoringand sleep apnoea, restless legs syndrome, narcolepsy, night terrorsand sleepwalkinglong-term pain
In women, childbirth can sometimes lead to insomnia.
Medication
Some prescriptions or over-the-counter medications can cause insomnia as a side effect. These include:
certain antidepressantsepilepsy medicinesmedicines for high blood pressure, such asbeta-blockerssteroid medicationnon-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)stimulant medicines used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or narcolepsysome medicines used to treat asthma, such as salbutamol, salmeterol and theophylline
Check the leaflet that comes with any medication you're taking to see if insomnia or sleeping difficulties are listed as a possible side effect.