Sleeping difficulty

Insomnia may cause:

• Dark circles under the eyes
• Disorientation
• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Posture changes
• Reduced energy level

It may help to see a psychiatrist, doctor, or another mental health provider to evaluate psychiatric disorders that can lead to insomnia. If you are depressed, antidepressants can help both the sleeping problem and the depression. These medications do not carry the same concerns about tolerance and dependence as sedatives.

Counseling may help with nightmares and dreams that interfere with sleep.

Sleeplessness in adults may be due to:

• Aging
• Alcoholism or abruptly stopping alcohol after long-term use
• Anxiety
• Bed or bedroom that does not promote sleep
• Depression or major depression
• Diseases, such as an enlarged prostate, cystitis, COPD, arthritis, heartburn, and heart or lung problems
• Exhilaration or excitement
• Grief
• Illicit street drugs, such as amphetamines and cocaine
• Jet lag
• Lack of exposure to bright light or sunlight
• Medications, such as too much thyroid medicine, ephedrine, phenylpropanolamine, theophylline derivatives, and others
• Overactive thyroid
• Restless leg syndrome
• Shift work
• Sleeping too much during the day
• Stimulants taken in the evening, including nicotine, alcohol, caffeine, or food
• Stress and worrying
• Suddenly stopping a medication (such as sleeping pills or sedatives)
• Too much stimulation at bedtime
• Wake-sleep pattern disturbances

IN INFANTS

Most newborn babies wake several times during the night, but by the age of 6 months they usually sleep through the night. At age 1, babies will sleep an average of 16 out of every 24 hours. Two to three hours of this sleep will be during the day.

Sleeplessness in infants may be due to:

• Desire for attention from parents
• Fever or other illness
• Hunger
• Indigestion
• Infantile colic or other digestive problems
• Teething