Depression, Anxiety, and Poor Sleeping Habits as Chronic Causes of Insomnia

Introduction: The Global Struggle with Sleep Issues

People throughout the world tend to struggle with different issues that hold them back in some way or another. Some issues can affect a person’s health and lead to drastic changes in a person’s brain. In order for a person to function in their daily life, he or she must attain certain sources to fuel the body and the mind. There are some issues that are more common among the population than people even realize. One constant problem is that people cannot sleep or have trouble falling asleep. Although to some people sleep does not seem to be a major factor in a person’s health, there is information that proves otherwise.

Understanding Insomnia: Causes and Effects

This chronic issue is better known as insomnia. Insomnia is a disorder in which a person suffers from the inability to sleep. It disrupts a person’s sleeping habits and leads to a chemical imbalance in the brain. People who suffer from insomnia usually exhibit symptoms that can hinder their ability to function “normally.” Sleeping is one of the main factors in a person’s ability to function and can ultimately affect other aspects of a person’s health.

Sleep is a detrimental part of a person’s life and always impacts a person’s mood. Health relies on a person’s sleeping habits and eating habits. If these habits are hindered, then a person’s general well-being will be strongly affected negatively. In present-day society, insomnia has become more prevalent due to its chronic causes, including depression, anxiety, and poor sleeping habits.

The Link Between Depression and Insomnia

Depression has increased drastically over the past few decades, adding to the constant issue of insomnia. It is reported that about one in ten Americans suffer from depression, with the number of diagnosed patients increasing by about twenty percent each year. Additionally, about eighty percent of people with clinical depression are not receiving treatment (American Psychiatric Association, 2020). Although it may seem like an exaggeration, most people in the United States suffer from depression. People with depression are also linked to struggling with sleep disorders, such as insomnia.

Depression involves an imbalance of serotonin and dopamine in the brain structure. If there is a chemical imbalance in the brain, the result is usually depression or another type of depressive disorder. Insomnia can be a common symptom of mood disorders such as bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, which are often linked to depression. Despite some claims that depression does not have a severe impact, it tends to create more detrimental issues. When a person develops insomnia, their sleep deprivation creates an imbalance of chemicals in the brain, increasing the likelihood of developing depression.

A person who develops insomnia is three times more likely to develop depression (WebMD, 2023). The most depressed individuals tend to be those aged forty-five to sixty-five years old, women, people unable to work, those without health insurance, and those who have been married (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023). As insomnia causes depression, the results often include issues with relationships and productivity. Depression is one of the main symptoms when dealing with insomnia and can also be treated by doctors simultaneously.

Anxiety as a Catalyst for Insomnia

Almost ten percent of people in North America suffer from anxiety and, as a result, are more likely to suffer from insomnia (Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 2023). Anxiety can cause changes in brain structures and trouble with sleeping, as well as the inability to be calm. If a person cannot relax and has an overactive mind at night, the chances of struggling with insomnia increase. People who struggle with anxiety disorders tend to have overactive thoughts throughout the day and night, which prevents them from falling asleep or resting.

As a result, people with anxiety disorders sometimes do not sleep regularly and begin to suffer from insomnia. For example, a person grieving the loss of a loved one may become very stressed and anxious. Traumatic events like this often lead a person to battle their thoughts constantly without sleeping, altering their brain chemistry. Insomnia is not only one disorder but also a compilation of other disorders, such as anxiety, which strongly affect a person’s ability to function in life. People who face insomnia and anxiety cannot live healthy lives unless they find treatment. Otherwise, insomnia can spiral out of control into more than a few causes in a person’s life.

The Impact of Poor Sleeping Habits

Poor sleeping habits are known for leading to chronic cases of insomnia when not treated or acknowledged. Adolescents are more prone to developing poor sleeping habits due to their erratic behavior and abnormal sleeping schedules. Poor sleeping habits increase the probability of bodily malfunctions. If a person develops poor sleeping habits, they will likely also develop other symptoms such as loss of concentration, irritability, loss of appetite or binge eating, loss of coordination, relationship problems, and tardiness to work.

Although sleep may seem to be a source of well-being that is not significant, it can lead a person to have a low immune system and affect behavior when sleeping schedules are disturbed. Sporadic sleeping patterns increase the likelihood of auto accidents, and approximately thirteen out of one hundred work injuries can be linked to poor sleeping habits (Hi Law Firm, 2023). Insomnia causes a person to become a danger to themselves and others. For example, a young girl named Heather O’Donald struggled with poor sleep habits for about three months due to constant stress over schoolwork, late-night adventures with friends, and an intense work schedule.

After about three months, Heather began to develop insomnia and was no longer able to sleep or rest. One day, when Heather was driving to work, she was exhausted to the point where she could not react quickly enough to avoid an accident. Heather’s lack of sleep and poor sleeping habits put her in a situation where her life and another person’s life were at risk. In this scenario, it can be agreed that insomnia is a health issue as well as a safety issue.

Conclusion: Addressing Insomnia and Its Underlying Causes

Insomnia is a disorder that affects a person’s health and ultimately his or her lifestyle. Sleep plays a significant role in a person’s life and determines how the body and brain function. Sleep disorders, such as insomnia, are linked to more than one type of health and safety risk. An insomniac experiences a life in which sleep is restricted, and life is no longer pleasurable. Therefore, depression and other mental disorders can develop due to a critical case of insomnia. Sleep requires certain chemicals in the brain to be released, and when these chemicals are not released, the human body’s functioning becomes off track. According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the human body requires sleep, nutrients, oxygen, hydration, and shelter to remain in good health (Maslow, 1943).

If a person struggling with insomnia could seek help by either obtaining medication from a doctor or undergoing therapy, the risks would be minimized. Disorders affect the course of a person’s life and the way he or she lives. Yet it is not to say that there is no way a person can overcome a disorder. There are ways in which a person can live while struggling with any type of disorder. A disorder does not have to hold a person back from living a full and healthy life.