Introduction

Insomnia is characterised by difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. A person who has insomnia will wake up too early and be unable to go back to sleep. Insomnia is classified into two groups depending on the duration which can either be acute insomnia which is short-term or chronic insomnia which can last for months or years.

What causes insomnia?

Insomnia is caused by a variety of factors such as:

• Family history: Insomnia can be a genetic condition in some families.
• Brain activity differences: People with insomnia may have more active brains which makes it difficult for them to fall asleep.
• Mental health conditions: Mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression are common among people with chronic insomnia.
• Stress: Being concerned about things such as work, school, health, finances can keep one awake at night and make it difficult to fall asleep. Situations such as death of a loved one, divorce, illness or unemployment can also cause insomnia.
• Poor sleep habits: Having an irregular bedtime schedule, taking naps, an uncomfortable sleep environment, eating or watching television, playing video games, utilising a smartphone or laptop prior to sleeping can disturb your sleep cycle.

What are the symptoms of insomnia?

A person with insomnia will exhibit some or all of the following symptoms:

• Low energy
• Poor concentration
• Lack of coordination which may lead to accidents.
• Anxiety about sleeping
• Daytime sleepiness or fatigue.
• Tension headaches
• Difficulty falling asleep at night
• Waking up during the night
• Waking up too early

Management of insomnia

• Make sure that your bedroom is quiet, dark and cool.
• Turn off all screens at least an hour before going to bed.
• Ensure to stick to a regular sleep schedule by sleeping and waking up at the same time daily. 
• Avoid naps since napping during the day can make it difficult to sleep at night.
• Try by all means to eat dinner earlier in the evening and avoid heavy meals within two hours of going to bed.

Conclusion

Insomnia can be managed by changing sleeping habits that make it difficult to fall asleep at night. Sticking to the sleep schedule is one of the ways to manage insomnia and also turning off smartphones, televisions and laptops before going to bed will help with sleeping with ease. If you are having difficulty managing insomnia, you can always visit a doctor.