Not sleeping well at night or just not sleeping at all? If sleep doesn't come for hours or you're waking up feeling tired and unrested, then you may be suffering from insomnia.
There are three main types of insomnia; transient, intermittent and chronic.
However one can suffer from all three types of insomnia.
It's not uncommon for a person to suffer a few months of sleeplessness and then sleep fine for a week.
The causes for insomnia can vary greatly; these include emotional distress, substance abuse, biological clock disturbances, health problems, and sleep habits.
So let's look at some possible causes in detail: Emotional distress: Anything from anger, anxiety and worry can be triggers for not sleeping.
Everyday stress can often be enough to cause sleeplessness.
Marriage and financial problems can put intense stress on the mind and body.
Substance abuse can be considered as self inflicted sleep deprivation, but it can also be unintentional.
When you're feeling weary and tired from a night of not sleeping, you need something to kick start your engines.
Usually people turn to a strong cup of coffee for that caffeine boost.
Others may turn to over-the-counter uppers.
These tablets often contain caffeine and other chemicals for alertness and energy.
Energy drinks are also popular.
These glucose filled drinks jolt the body with high doses of glucose, giving you a short term boost.
However there is a downside to substance abuse, and this includes nicotine too.
They are always short-lived and actually make you feel worse when you come down from your caffeine, nicotine or sugar rush.
What's more, caffeine stays in your system for hours.
So if you're not sleeping, it may be because it hasn't fully metabolized in your system.
You're far better off eating a slow energy release breakfast in the morning to put you on an even keel.
Try oats, muesli, porridge, dried fruits and even a fruit smoothie.
Avoid caffeine and energy drinks in the day.
Try nuts and seeds if you need a snack or energy boost.
Your sleep and wake cycle are connected.
What you do in the day can affect your sleep.
Your diet and well-being also play an important role in your health.
If you're not sleeping, pay attention to your eating and drinking habits in the day.
You may be surprised at what a difference you can make to your sleep by simply changing your habits.