What Causes Insomnia, Do I Have It and How Do You Treat It?

by johnnytakespictures

Question by Wish I Were Chris Colfer: What causes insomnia, do I have it and how do you treat it?
I’m 14. Every morning, I wake up at around 6:30 for school and I’m absolutely exhausted. I have little to no energy. With the help of a soda at breakfast, I can stay awake during the day. When I have to go to bed, I’m wiped and want to sleep, but I just can’t. I have to be in bed, asleep by 10:00 but most of the time, I’m not asleep until 11:00 PM. Recently, I’ve been awake until at least midnight, so I’m only getting about six and a half hours of sleep a night. I compensate for this by sleeping in until 11:00 AM on the weekends.

I’ve had sleeping problems for as long as I can remember. One of my earliest memories is of lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. When I tell my parents that I can’t sleep, they always give me the same advice, “Close your eyes, lie down, relax. You’ll fall asleep in no time.” BUT IT DOES NOT WORK. I can’t just fall asleep like that, my mind just won’t shut up and let me be. I want to know why my mind won’t shut off at night, what exactly my problem is, and how I can fix it. Any REAL help is appreciated. No sarcasm, please. THANK YOU!
Also many nights, about two or three hours after I fall asleep, I wake up, but I go right back to sleep.
Acid09, did you not read my entire question? I’ve been like this since I was a toddler!

Best answer:

Answer by Naguru
There are several reasons for insomnia. Many of the causes of transient and short-term insomnia are similar and they include:

Jet lag; Changes in shift work; Excessive or unpleasant noise; Uncomfortable room temperature (too hot or too cold); Stressful situations in life (exam preparation, loss of a loved one, unemployment, divorce, or separation); Presence of an acute medical or surgical illness or hospitalization; Withdrawal from drug, alcohol, sedative, or stimulant medications; Insomnia related to high altitude (mountains)

2. Consult a professionally qualified doctor. Doctors can only diagnose correctly. Just on hearsay, that too without seeing the actual patient, it is difficult to guess or predict.

Answer by Acid09
You’re not an insomniac, you’re a young man who’s growing. People who have insomnia either sleep very little or do not sleep for longer than 45 minutes to an hour and a half at a time. You seem to be getting plenty of sleep. Its just that you wake still feeling tired and have difficulty trying to fall asleep.

Disturbances to sleep are pretty common in teenagers. These can be caused by changes in hormone levels, diet, exercise, stress. For the most part you kind of just have to deal with them.

But you can increase your chances of sleeping more soundly by cutting out things in your diet like caffeine and sugar – sugar especially has been linked to any number of health problems from diabetes to chronic fatigue to tooth decay.

If you exercise for at least a full 20 minutes a day you will increase your body’s natural “feel good” hormones while also working out the stuff that causes stress. It’ll also lower your blood pressure and should contribute to getting a better quality sleep.

Lastly just work out stress you feel in healthy ways – hobbies, art, writing, talking with people you trust. You might even look into simple ways to meditate.

Then you’re just an idiot. Actually look up what insomnia really is. If you were an insomniac since you were a toddler you’d likely be diagnosed by a doctor. And if you really were like that since you were a toddler the cause of it wouldn’t be something anybody on Y!A could answer for you. If its as serious as you’re making it out to be you need an actual medical opinion.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

Top of the pops 8th September 1988 start and BBC1 line up – BBC1 Continuity from 8th September 1988. The alcohol advice given in 1988 is still relevant today, seems the message isn’t getting through! sorry these clips…

'Newquay's booze culture killed our son'
Terms: Home staging advice given free once instructed to sell your house. … Speaking after the inquest, Mrs Doy warned of the dangers of alcohol and urged the Government to review licensing laws, which were “failing young people and their families”. Read more on This is Cornwall

County Attorney Saffo strives for public safety
Saffo — a member of the College-Town Task Force on Alcohol — attended a school that many other students were forced to attend by court-orders, she said in an interview with The Dartmouth. Saffo was …. “We seek her advice all the time,” Griffin said. Read more on The Dartmouth