What is insomnia, Insomnia definition, Insomnia meaning

Insomnia caused by stress - Are you a stress victim?

Stress is one of the most common presenting symptoms of insomnia. Insomnia is a massive problem, and that a high proportion of these incidences may be caused by stress inducing situations.

Recent survey indicates, one in three of us will suffer from insomnia. One in five may suffer from work-related stress. This means there are a lot of people out there who cannot sleep.  Lack of sleep over an extended period can have serious results, this can also cause digestive problems, muscle pain and even depression.

Symptoms of stress

Stress is a normal part of everyday life, but an increase in stress can cause physical and emotional problems. Symptoms of stress include:
  • Problems sleeping or a change in your sleep pattern
  • Headache, stiff neck, or nagging backache
  • Rapid breathing or rapid heart rate
  • Sweaty palms
  • Upset stomach
  • Irritability
  • Fatigue
  • Inability to concentrate, to remember, or to make decisions

How does stress causes insomnia?

Stress destroys the homeostatic balance, affecting the peak potential. It can cause several psychological and physical effects like depression, headache, accidents, impaired mental functions, and even heart attack. Stress releases two hormones from adrenal glands : cortisol and epinephrine.  These hormones affect digestion and growth, as the fundamental balance is whacked. Processes not necessary for short-term survival are affected, as the two hormones withdraw energy from them. They channel the extra energy for boosting blood supply and muscles, for precipitating quick actions. The excitatory stress hormones makes people excited, leading to inability of sleep and disruption of sleep. 

Snoozing is a natural process where the metabolic rate and heartbeat lowers, postural muscles relax, blood pressure falls and breathing becomes normal. It is the cyclical fall as well as rise of cortisol levels that monitors the level of sleep. Cortisol level can affect the day-to-day life. While falling into sleep results in a gradual cessation of the action phenomenon, stress induces action. Conditions of sleeping and stress are two antagonistic processes and hence cause havoc. Chronic secretion of cortisol due to stress, leads to excessive activation, not only during waking hours but also while sleeping. Hence sleep becomes restless, fragmented and shallow, causing insomnia.
 

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