Stress.

Difficulty sleeping is often an early symptom of heightened stress. People commonly notice changes in their sleep surrounding stressful life events. Chronic sleep disruption when stressed is an indicator that you may benefit from learning and practicing skills and strategies to navigate stressors and help yourself relax.

Depression.

When in a depressive episode, people may experience marked changes in sleep, including waking early in the morning and struggling to fall back asleep, and lack of restful sleep. Sleep disruption is generally the symptom of depression that takes that longest time to remit.

Anxiety.

Anxiety involves muscle tension, difficulties relaxing, and difficulty controlling worries, all which interfere with sleep. People struggling with anxiety may find themselves worrying at night, and learn negative associations with sleep, such as anticipatory concerns about whether they will be able to “get enough” sleep at night.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Those with PTSD are often more vulnerable to intrusive memories, flashbacks, and distressing feelings when relaxed. They may experience nightmares and begin to avoid or dread sleep itself. Insomnia factors that are co-ocurring with PTSD can be addressed within a trauma treatment plan that includes insomnia treatment components.

Medical Issues.

Conditions affecting breathing such as sleep apnea, asthma and allergies, as well as chronic pain, GERD, and restless legs syndrome, all may cause insomnia. In addition, some medications cause insomnia as a side effect. Insomnia treatment can help mediate medical issues affect on sleep.

Behavioral Patterns.

Whether the initial cause or a response to insomnia, behaviors such as the use of sleeping medications, caffeine, alcohol, technology, and other sleep habits are usually part of the clinical context of factors that maintain insomnia.