What causes sleep problems?
There are many reasons you may experience sleep problems. Common causes of sleep problems are:
- A poor sleep routine, such as going to bed too early or too late, or not relaxing properly before going to bed
- A poor sleep environment, such as sleeping somewhere uncomfortable, or with too much light or noise
- Changes to sleep patterns, perhaps because of working night shifts or sleeping in a new place
- Unhelpful psychological associations, such as developing anxiety about going to sleep after a period of poor sleep, or associating the bedroom with being active and awake
- Physical illness causing discomfort or pain, such as a physical sleep condition (e.g. sleep apnoea), ora hormone or neurological disorder (e.g. Parkinson’s disease)
- Alcohol, street drugs and stimulants, such as caffeine or nicotine
- Medication with trouble sleeping as a side effect, such as epilepsy and asthma medication, or antidepressants
- Stress, worry and anxiety
- Feeling nervous about a specific issue
- Trauma, such as an accident, bereavement, or long-term abuse
- Mental health problems (see ‘Sleep and mental health’)
