Falling asleep is one thing, but staying asleep is a whole different struggle. If you find it hard to sleep, and then on top of that, maintaining the sleep throughout the night, then you may need to see a sleep doctor Damascus MD. Here is everything you need to know about why you can’t stay asleep.

Potential Reasons For Difficulty In Staying Asleep

Something Is On Your Mind

Stress and anxiety – even though everyone tells you not to think of it, relax and calm down – it is easier said than done and these two things can be the reason why you lose your sleep and wake up in the middle of the night. Your brain might be going a million miles an hour, even though your body might be asleep and one thought can turn everything on its head and make you sit up in bed, your sleep all forgotten.

Even though you might not want to hear this, but you need to shut those thoughts down and the easiest and most effective way to do so is by breathing in and out and relaxing your taut body after a hectic day. Things are never going to be in your control, no matter how much you think about them, so just try to take a breather, relax, and go to sleep.

This might not work on the first try, but you will eventually train your brain to stop thinking about things that are out of your control.

Depression

Another thing that might cause sleep disruption at night can be depression. When you’re depressed, you can find yourself dozing off at the weirdest hours of the day and that is something you don’t want to do.

If you sleep at odd hours, then you won’t be able to fall asleep at night, let alone stay asleep. This is why it is very important to treat your depression and get it on track, so that your life and routine don’t fall apart in the process.

Insomnia Claps Back

If you are someone who has had trouble sleeping in the past, then you might have insomnia and that is something that can lead to you not falling asleep and then you will find yourself waking up in the middle of the night, even if you do manage to fall asleep.

So, when dealing with insomnia, you have to be very careful and meticulous. You can’t stray from the treatment or management, otherwise, insomnia will come back to bite you when you least expect it.

Maintenance Insomnia

Speaking of insomnia, the type of insomnia that doesn’t allow you to stay asleep at night and doesn’t maintain your sleep is known as maintenance insomnia. If you have maintenance insomnia, there is a very high chance that you will wake up in the middle of the night, for no reason at all sometimes, and this can be really frustrating.

Like insomnia, maintenance insomnia also doesn’t have a definite cause, so that clearly doesn’t mean that it is easy to handle either. It can put you through the wringer and it is very hard to deal with on your own. So, always consult with an insomnia specialist Columbia if you see symptoms.

Too Much Noise

Sometimes, having distractions can also lead to poor sleep. If you live in an area where there is a lot of commotion at night, then you can bet your dreams that you will wake up in the middle of the night, which isn’t pleasant at all.

So, try to invest in ear plugs, make sure that your bedroom is free from all sorts of sounds and distractions, and make it a place to sleep and have peace. You will see a major difference in how your sleep is much more continuous.

Too Much Light

Speaking of things in the bedroom that can make you lose sleep or at least wake you up in the middle of the night, one of those things can also be light. When it’s dark, your body is better able to sleep, because it produces more sleep-inducing hormones. When it’s really bright out, you can’t fall asleep and stay asleep.

So, make sure that you draw the curtains when you fall asleep and if you can’t do that, then use a sleep mask to block out any light. This will make a major difference in the way you sleep and you will see that you will snooze throughout the night.

Restless Leg Syndrome

RLS is a sleep disorder where you feel the need to move your leg. There can also be leg sensations like throbbing, tingling, and aching that can make the person uncomfortable. The symptoms rear their head when you’re at rest so it can make resting, falling asleep, and staying asleep difficult. There is no cure for RLS. However, you can manage restless leg syndrome.

Bed Not Comfortable

The bed being comfortable for your body is also a very telling factor about your sleep quality. If you don’t want to constantly toss and turn when you sleep and you want to sleep throughout the night, then you want to put your comfort first.

If your mattress is all wonky, pressed down in various places, then it won’t leave you comfy when you lay down on it. So, if your mattress needs replacing, then you better get on it, because nothing is more important than your comfort and sleep.

Acid Reflux Can Be The Culprit

Acid reflux can be due to a number of reasons. It can be the food you ate, it can be due to indigestion and it can also be random at times too. The position in which you sleep can also cause the acid to creep its way from your stomach, all the way to your mouth and that is not a pleasant way to be awoken by your sleep.

If you have that problem and you don’t want to wake up because of acid regurgitating through your esophagus to your mouth, then you have to sleep in an inclined position with your head rested higher than your thorax.

It Could Be Jet Lag

Time zone difference and jet lag can also mess up your biological clock. It can lead to you sleeping at weird hours of the day, it can lead to insomnia and it can also lead to you waking up in the middle of the night.

So, if you don’t want to sacrifice your sleep solely because of jet lag, then you have to train your brain to get accustomed to the changes quickly. You want to ensure that you’re keeping yourself awake so that you can sleep at a decent hour. That will lead to better and more maintained sleep.

Age Is A Factor

As you age, your sleep naturally becomes very discontinuous and it is something that can be really frustrating to deal with. You need to come to terms with the fact that you will need to acclimate to the changes that come with age.

If you just sit there and stress about it, then you won’t go anywhere. It will be very hard to change your age old routine, but once you do, you will find it easier to manage your new sleep schedule, which is very important.

Conclusion

Staying asleep is really impossible, because choppy sleep can lead to a ton of problems and they can widely affect your body and health as a whole. So, now you know all the reasons why you’re restless. For proper diagnosis, visit a sleep center Frederick.