"Do you experience difficulty in sleeping?" or "Do you have difficulty in staying asleep for a long time?" If you answered yes to either of the two questions then you might be one of those who are experiencing symptoms of having sleeping difficulties or what is popularly known  as insomnia.

Insomnia can be caused by a number of factors. It can be psychological – caused by depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, dementia, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD, or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD. People who experience intense depression and frustration usually have a hard time sleeping. They tend to just think about the problem, stresses and tensions, and fears and anxiety and stay up the whole night rather than sleep. Some physiological changes can also lead to insomnia, like a female's period, an injury or condition that causes extreme pain, or a condition called Restless Leg Syndrome. All these, though usually not severe, can result to insomnia.

Insomnia can also be drug-induced. It is a common side-effect of some medicines that are prescribed by doctors that contain medications, herbs, caffeine, nicotine, ephedrine, taurine, cocaine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, MDMA, or modafinil. Such stimulants affect your brain and disrupt your body's regular resting activity. Fluoroquinolone antibiotic drugs that are used for respiratory and urinary tract infections also induce insomnia. Coffee, which is very popular to people nowadays especially to the young adults who work late, contains a high concentration of caffeine which when taken too excessively could lead to insomnia. Other caffeine-loaded drinks include energy boosting drinks and some selected carbonated sodas.

It can also be due to some environmental changes. Any alteration to the routine that a person has established may lead to upset the physical and emotional balance which results to insomnia. Many are accustomed to regular routines and circumstances that when altered, misarranged, or disturbed cannot let them sleep until things goes back to the normal situation. Travelers experience Jet lag because of the changes in their environment – time, weather, and atmosphere. This disorder may lead to insomnia if the person has difficulty adjusting. For some, even just a change in their pillows can keep someone awake all throughout the night.

There are a lot more causes for insomnia. Listed above are the most common causes. If you answered yes to either of the questions above, then the culprit may be one of those mentioned.

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