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According to the National Sleep Foundation, almost forty-eight percent of Americans report having insomnia occasionally, while twenty two percent report having it every night. Together, this makes up about seventy percent of the American population. There are different causes, types, and treatments for insomnia, but it’s hard to say how it really impacts our lives.
Insomnia means that you have a hard time getting to sleep or have a hard time staying asleep. Having a lot of sleepless nights often makes it hard for you to function and stay awake during the day. Most people know they have insomnia because they don’t feel rested when they wake up and remember moving around a lot or waking up for a period of time during the night.
One cause of insomnia is stress. If you have a lot of anxiety, it could make your mind too active which makes it hard to relax. Ironically, being stressed out about not being able to sleep causes problems sleeping. Insomnia can also be caused by things other than mental causes. Foods with caffeine can cause restlessness, delaying sleep. Although alcohol may help you fall asleep, it can make it hard to sleep well later in the night. Also, many types of drugs, both prescription and over-the-counter, can cause restlessness or contain caffeine that boosts your energy. The environment you’re sleeping in might be another cause of insomnia. Medical conditions like depression, anxiety disorders, pregnancy, ADHD, and growing older could also cause insomnia.
There are many things you can do to help treat insomnia. Giving yourself at least four hours between the time you eat and go to bed allows your body to digest most heavy foods. Caffeine intake should be cut back, especially as it gets later in the day. Limiting the use of stimulants, nicotine, and alcohol might also be able to help fix your sleep cycle. Since your body uses a chemical called melatonin to make you feel tired, eating foods that are high in this like oats,...