Most people have difficulty sleeping from time to time, especially under stress, but when sleep troubles persist for longer than a month and occur at least three times per week, you will likely be diagnosed with chronic insomnia. Chronic Insomnia is characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking earlier that you desire. Not only does this result in fatigue during the day but can also affect the ability to function at full capacity in life and work.

Symptoms

Chronic Insomnia can cause the following symptoms:

1. Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
2. Trouble falling back asleep after waking in the night
3. Waking too early
4. Daytime fatigue 
5. Moodiness, anxiety, and/or irritability
6. Difficulty attending to task
7. Trouble remembering 
8. Increased accidents or errors

Causes of Chronic Insomnia

There are many possible causes of chronic insomnia including the following medical issues:

1. Mental health disorder such anxiety or depression
2. Chronic disease
3. Sleep apnea
4. Restless leg syndrome
5. Medication side effects

Chronic insomnia may also be caused by lifestyle factors such as the following: 

1. Stress
2. Irregular sleep schedules
3. Stimulating activities before bed
4. Eating before bed
5. Caffeine use

Risk Factors

In addition to the causes listed above, woman have a higher likelihood of experiencing insomnia due to hormonal shifts during the menstrual cycle and during menopause. Risk of insomnia also increases with age.

Treatment

If trouble sleeping persists, be sure to contact your doctor before symptoms negatively impact your life and work. Your doctor may prescribe:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can be used to help eliminate negative thoughts and worries that prevent sleep. 
• Prescription Medications may help induce sleep but are not intended for long time use
• Lifestyle Changes such as setting consistent bedtime/wake time, changing your eating schedule, limiting caffeine, etc. may greatly reduce symptoms of insomnia

‍