There are a variety of reasons why people suffer from insomnia. Insomnia causes range from the physical to the psychological.
The term psycho physiological is the connection between the body (physiological) and the mind (psychological). People with psycho physiological insomnia can't sleep because they respond to stress or physical illness with increased physiological stimulation. If you don't pinpoint what is causing your stress then you will suffer from insomnia.
In obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the airway collapses during sleep due to lack of muscle tone and this usually causes the person to wake up. The person may not realize that they have awakened many times during the night but they will feel tired in the morning.
Those who usually rely on alcohol to fall asleep may suffer from insomnia when they stop drinking it. Alcohol is a depressant and while it may help you fall asleep, interferes with REM activity, degrading the quality of your sleep.
If you are under constant stress from work, from a sick child or a personal matter such as a divorce, then you may suffer from insomnia. You can get therapy to relieve your stress disorder and thus get back to your normal sleeping habits.
You may have an airport near your house or there could be construction going on during the night where you live. This could lead to a lack of proper sleep. You may not wake up but these noises still disturb your sleep.
If you don't sleep well you may start to worry about it during the day. This could lead to you trying even harder at night to get to sleep, which then leads to more anxiety about not sleeping and it turns into a vicious cycle. If you find that you are falling asleep while reading or watching TV you may be suffering from Learned Insomnia and should talk to your doctor about it.
There are just as many ways to treat your insomnia as there are causes. Check out these insomnia tips to treat the causes of your insomnia and read about herbal and prescription medication for insomnia treatments. Anxiety about your insomnia can make it even harder for you to sleep - read about overcoming anxiety.