The feelings of helplessness and sleeplessness sometimes can be overlapping and overbearing because of how one feels when one is inflicted with insomnia. It is more likely to be prevalent in women due to the fact the causes of insomnia in females tend to be tenfold because of the frequent hormonal changes stemming from the menstrual cycle, as a side effect of pregnancy and or due to premenopausal symptoms, which can also be considered as the number in one of the many causes of insomnia in elderly females. We are going to discuss some of these causes in greater detail to shed light on the reasons for extreme sleeplessness in women and also talk about how it can be treated.
What is Insomnia?
Insomnia is a sleep disorder that affects individuals who are suffering from a state of sleeplessness for an extended period of time.
Types of Insomnia
Insomnia exists in two different forms and they are laid out below:
Acute Insomnia
Once the risk factors have caused insomnia, one usually suffers from Acute Insomnia, which usually ends in three months but if it persists longer than that, then it is labeled Chronic Insomnia.
Chronic Insomnia
Chronic Insomnia is highly consequential, especially for women. It has long-term effects and can cause severe fatigue, problems concentrating, affect memory and your behavior can become erratic leading to poor performance at work or an educational institution and you are generally less sociable.
What Causes Insomnia in Females?
While many risk factors like unequal work-life balance demanding family responsibility or health conditions exist as causes of insomnia in women or people assigned the female gender at birth, predominantly the major cause is the hormonal shift arising from the menstrual cycle, impending pregnancy, or the onset of menopause.
The Menstrual Cycle
The menstrual cycle is one of the usual suspects of the reasons for insomnia in females. The time between ovulation and menstruation, which roughly translates into two weeks in a 28-day cycle of menstruation of most women – keeps them sleepless due to the sudden hormonal fluctuations. During this time, women tend to stay awake at night and complain about having trouble going back to sleep.
These hormonal fluctuations are evident in the Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and the Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PDD), which are on a similar level to that of the menstrual cycle. These are also a culprit of sleeplessness in women as both of them cause a lot of pain and discomfort!
Both of the disorders mentioned above cause a decrease of melatonin – affectionately called “The Sleep Hormone”, therefore leading to the prevalence of insomnia in women. Now couple this with the painful cramps and extreme changes in mood, and you get a recipe for sleeplessness in women.
Pregnancy
Physical discomfort due to the enlarged belly – especially during the second trimester, baby’s activity in their prenatal state, the frequent urination, and of course, the hormonal changes, all contribute to insomnia in women who are pregnant.
Additionally, women tend to suffer from various disorders like Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) and Sleep Apnea during pregnancy, which also adds to the reasons that contribute to insomnia in women.
A vast majority of women are afflicted with insomnia during the onset of menopause, which usually means this is the time when women have had their last menstruation cycle. For most women, menopause usually strikes right around when at least 12 months have elapsed since their last period.
Again, the hormonal changes are the culprit here, but this time due to the beginning of menopause. During and following this time, women tend to experience night sweats, which can soak the clothes and bedding of the afflicted individual. This, in turn, adds up to the causes of insomnia in females as an additional factor.
Anxiety and Depression
Both, Anxiety and Stress might not be the biggest risk factors but still are great answers to the question of what causes insomnia in females.
Anxiety
The neurotransmitters tasked with handling sleep are under duress and may not function properly when one is under anxiety. This puts someone in a state of hyperarousal, which leads to sleeplessness.
Depression
Recent studies about depression and anxiety in women evidenced that depression and insomnia are linked to each other and either of their existence can worsen the situation of the other. The same study found that people suffering from insomnia are 19.7 times more likely to suffer from depression.
Learn More: The Eye-opening significance of Depression and Overeating
Other Reasons for Insomnia in Females
There are other risk factors that contribute to sleeplessness in women. These factors can arise from something as common as everyday life, which include but are not limited to:
- Snoring or Partner Snoring
- Excessive Screen Time
- Light
- Exposure to Toxins Or Other Biological Substances
- Abnormal Sleep Schedule
- Lower Socioeconomic Status, which causes stress
- Acute or Chronic Stress
- High Caffeine or Alcohol Intake
Consequences of Insomnia in Women
Sleep deprivation is also a major cause of certain serious medical conditions
- Type-2 Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Obesity
- Heart Conditions
- Stroke
- Conditions Involving Psychosis
What Can Be Done for Treatment?
To fight against insomnia, treatments like CBT or Psychotherapy provide excellent support to the afflicted, which their addiction
Diagnosis
A mental healthcare provider such as the one available through our platform provides expert consultation for insomnia. They can diagnose by taking notes on your history, sleep patterns, personal life, and certain symptoms you might be suffering from. To rule out some medical conditions that cause insomnia, the mental health practitioner will assign some tests.
Learn More: Understanding the link between anxiety and migraine
Recommended Tests
While no tests exist that diagnose insomnia directly, there are many that can help uncover symptoms of insomnia in the person afflicted with it. These are:
- Polysomnography – Tests for Sleep Apnea
- Actigraphy
- Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT)
Is there a cure? Can it be treated properly?
There is no steadfast cure for insomnia, whether you are a man or a woman. But various treatment techniques can always help:
- General Mental Healthcare: Its benefits should not be understated! Mental healthcare services alone can greatly improve your sleep patterns by providing treatment for the underlying mental health problems as it changes your overall way of life for the better.
- Prescribed Medication: This is especially suitable for women going through the hormonal changes described above. It should be ensured that this medication is not habit-inducing.
- Psychotherapy: Psychotherapies specifically designed for insomnia can greatly decrease the symptoms related to the disorder.
You can reach out to our experts for your insomnia issues to know more about the causes of insomnia in females as they will not only help you understand what are the symptoms and what will be the treatments for these symptoms.
Prevention Through Lifestyle Changes
Before you run off to treatment, try to find out that the causes of insomnia in females can be easily preventable. You’ll be surprised to know how many of these workout!
- Try meditation
- Avoid stressful and anxiety-prone triggers
- Take vitamins that help your body release suitable transmitters or hormones
- Maintain a clear work-life balance
- Avoid intermittent naps
- Go for yoga
- Exercise
- Feel comfortable in your skin
- Keeping good sleep hygiene
While prevention is important, it is always important to go for actual treatment provided by mental health practitioners and also to get sound advice on how to prevent it in the future.
What Can You Do As A Woman To Fight Insomnia?
Most women can help themselves by doing the basics, like maintaining a work-life balance, delegating some domestic responsibilities to their partner, changing the sleep schedule, limiting alcohol or caffeine intake, or taking part in rigorous activities but if the issue is chronic, it is time to take a major step: Consult with your mental health practitioner or a sleep specialist.
The mental health consultant might suggest a therapy like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (or CBT-I), which involves coming to terms with the problems that cause insomnia and finding solutions that form good habits and rewire your brain to fight insomnia rather than getting hardwired on sleep medication. This type of therapy is extremely suitable for women, as females have a natural tendency to come to terms with their feelings and what is going on with them mentally when compared to their male counterparts. Men find it much harder to pinpoint what they are going through and feel judged going into a therapy like this, even when it can be extremely beneficial for them.
A recent study evidenced that CBT-I has a good track record of helping people improve their sleep cycles and also helping them decrease their dependency on sleep medication. CBT-I is a healthier alternative to other remedies and treatments for dodging the causes of insomnia in females. Solid Foundation Psychiatry is well-equipped to handle this type of therapy. Making an appointment will begin your path to recovery from the affliction of insomnia soon.
Concluding Words
Insomnia or sleeplessness for extended periods of time is a critical mental problem and prevention is necessary. While people tend to suffer from insomnia from time to time, it is not a problem that should be taken lightly. Changes in lifestyles can help yet treatments exist to handle the disorder when it becomes a chronic problem. Insomnia is more prevalent in women because the prevalence of common mental disorders is greater in women than in men, making treatment paramount to their well-being.
Our renowned experts who are capable of providing a good map for your road to recovery can help our female customers in finding the best solution possible.