Though most people think of insomnia as the inability or difficulty falling asleep, it goes beyond that. In addition to difficulty falling asleep, insomnia also comprises any of the following:

· Frequently waking up during the night with trouble falling asleep again
· Waking up extremely early in the morning
· Sleep that is not refreshing

Insomnia is not defined based upon the number of hours sleep a person gets or how long it takes to get to sleep. Each person’s sleep needs differ, but when those needs are not met, problems can develop such as being tired during the day, lack of energy, inability to concentrate, and irritability. It can be short-term, intermittent, or chronic.

Some factors in a person’s life make them more susceptible to insomnia such as age (those over 60 are more prone to insomnia than younger people), being a female, and having a history of depression. If other conditions are also present such as stress, anxiety, medical problems, or using certain medications, insomnia is more likely to occur.

Many factors are involved in short-term and intermittent insomnia, but the likely cause is a combination of one or more of the following conditions:

· Stress
· Environmental noise
· Temperatures that are too hot or too cold
· Change in the environment around you
· Sleep/waking problems as those you experience with jet lag
· Side effects of medication

Chronic insomnia is more complex and usually results from a combination of factors, but one of the most common causes is depression. Other causes may include any of the following:

· Arthritis
· Kidney disease
· Heart failure
· Asthma
· Sleep apnea
· Narcolepsy
· Restless leg syndrome
· Parkinson’s disease
· Hyperthyroidism
· Misuse of caffeine, alcohol, or other substances
· Disruption of the sleep cycle due to nighttime activities
· Chronic stress

Other behaviors that may cause insomnia include the following:

· Worrying about being able to get to sleep
· Having excessive amounts of caffeine
· Alcohol consumption before bedtime
· Cigarette smoking before bedtime
· Excessive napping
· Irregular sleep schedule or continually disrupted sleep

These behaviors may be responsible for causing the insomnia initially and cessation may eliminate the problem completely.

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