Insomnia

Usually, insomnia problems that have only been present for a few days or weeks arise from one of two sources.

The first source is a change in your living and sleeping "environment." Your sleep "environment" includes everything that orients your brain to your schedule and conditions your brain to anticipate sleep:

• your work and eating schedule

• adjustment to travel, including jet-lag

• your exercise frequency, duration, and timing during the day

• noise in your sleeping location

• light in your sleeping location

• your bedtime ritual

• stimulation prior to sleep, such as reading or viewing television

• a new bed or mattress

• change in room temperature

• unpleasant odors in the bedroom.

The second source of short-term insomnia is an increase in emotional stress. This can arise from a stressful life event, relationship difficulties, performance anxiety, work or school stresses, a medical illness, or a mental illness such as depression.

Considering your own situation, which category would you consider the most likely source of your sleep disruption?

A change in sleep "environment."

A recent increase in emotional stress.

Neither category fits me well.