Why am I Having Trouble Falling Asleep

“Just count sheep jumping over the fence, you will fall asleep in no time!” For some people, this sleeping strategy just isn’t working anymore. All of us want to curl up under our blankets after a long day and have a good night’s rest. However, for those who have trouble sleeping, this isn’t always the case. Here is why you are having trouble falling asleep and ways in which you can make it better. 

What Is Insomnia? 

Insomnia is the constant trouble of falling asleep and staying up all night affecting the number of hours you need to feel fully rested. There are different variations of insomnia: chronic and acute. Chronic is a long-term condition meaning this occurs several nights a week lasting for a long period of time and acute meaning it can last from one to several nights. Symptoms include difficulty falling asleep, frequent wakeups during the night, waking up too early, falling asleep during the day, difficulty concentrating and irritability. 

There are various causes of insomnia ranging from medical reasons, psychiatric conditions, medication side effects to lifestyle changes. It is important to get to the root of the problem and find out what the cause behind your sleeplessness is. When insomnia is extremely severe it can have an impact on your health: reducing your life expectancy and increasing the chances of obesity, diabetes, seizures, asthma, compromised immunity, and heart problems – so it is well worth some detective work to make changes to improve your sleep. 

How Can I Make It Better? 

Fortunately, there are solutions to improve your sleeping patterns. Do something relaxing before bed to wind down and feel completely Zen. Another option is to avoid blue light that is emitted by electronic screens since it influences your body’s preparations for bed and makes it harder to fall asleep. To promote a night of restful sleep, having a cool, dark and silent sleeping environment is crucial. Stick to a sleeping routine and schedule, since when you prepare your body with the same activities and your sleep-wake schedule is consistent, it will become a habit resulting in better sleep. 

If you have tried everything and nothing seems to be helping, reach out and seek professional help. A therapist will help you develop sleeping strategies that cater to your unique needs. Contact us today, and we will get you back on track for a great night’s rest.