The definition of insomnia according to Dictionary.com is the, “inability to obtain sufficient sleep, esp. when chronic; difficulty in falling or staying asleep…..”

Wikipedia suggests that insomnia is not a disease in itself but can be a symptom of any one of several other sleep disorders. Basically, the definition of insomnia is characterised by a continual difficulty in being able to either fall asleep or in being able to remain asleep.

Insomnia is highly prevalent in the USA, with around 64 million regular sufferers recorded in 2007. Of those, it was found that women were more susceptible than men.

In treating insomnia there are four general categories: Behavioural treatments, rehabilitation, medications or other types of somatic treatments. As you will find on the rest of this site, it is suggested that neither of these approaches will suit all sufferers. This is because of the different nature and causes of any disorder. However, sufferers will often find immediate but maybe not long-term relief from medications or general somatic treatments.

The definition of insomnia appears to merely be a blanket cover term for a variety of underlying conditions.  That said, if you have any serious condition I’m sure you will have seen your doctor by now and will be undergoing treatment. If you are at all worried, do seek professional help. If you are reading this site, it is likely that your sleep deprivation may be due to some form of transitory stress or anxiety and you will find the help you need in these articles to break the cycle.

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There are a number of common insomnia causes which we will look at in more depth. The causes that are discussed below are all related to chronic or long-term insomnia issues.

Psychological problems such as anxiety, depression, and acute stress probably make up the largest group of insomnia causes. People with any of these problems will often find insomnia to be a part of the symptoms of the above listed problems. Also, issues including schizophrenia or bipolar disorder may cause insomnia for some people.

The other large causes of insomnia are physical problems. These could include problems like sleep apnea, hyperthyroidism, congestive heart failure, acid reflux, COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), or nocturnal asthma. These problems make it actually physically difficult for a person to fall asleep and/or stay asleep and get good rest.

Along with some of the above listed insomnia causes, there are also some groups of people who might be at a higher risk for insomnia. These groups include seniors, travellers, adolescents or young students, pregnant women, and menopausal women. In addition, there are certain substances that people take that may also cause shorter term insomnia – the cessation of using these substances, at least near bedtime, should stop or ease the problem of insomnia. Some examples of these substances could include the following: alcohol or stimulants associated with caffeine or nicotine.

Also, medications for the following purposes may cause insomnia: some cold and asthma products, high blood pressure medicines, and some medications for depression, anxiety, and/or schizophrenia.

All in all, as you can see from the above lists, there are a variety of insomnia causes. Some can be avoided through avoiding activities or substances, while others may need treatment of the underlying problem in order to be able to also cure the insomnia.

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