Why have I had sleep problems and tiredness for six months?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 42-year-old woman who has not been sleeping well for the past six months. I lie in bed for hours before falling asleep, then wake up multiple times during the night and cannot get back to sleep easily. Even when I do sleep, I wake up feeling tired and groggy, which makes it hard to focus at work. I have tried avoiding caffeine and screens before bed, but nothing seems to help.

Is this just stress, or could there be something else causing my sleep problems?

Kindly help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

The condition you are experiencing is chronic insomnia, which can be triggered by stress but is often maintained by a combination of factors. Difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings, and unrefreshing sleep for more than three months usually signal more than just temporary stress.

Among the possible causes can be mentioned stress or depression, hormonal imbalance associated with menopause, pain, drugs, thyroid gland dysfunction, and sleep-related problems, such as sleep apnea (if there is snoring, pauses in breathing, or morning headaches).

Since you have already tried basic sleep hygiene steps like limiting caffeine and screen time, the next step is often a more structured approach, such as cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, which is highly effective and focuses on breaking the cycle of poor sleep and worry about sleep.

A medical evaluation is also worthwhile to check for underlying conditions or medication side effects. In some cases, short-term sleep aids may be used, but the long-term focus is on retraining the body and mind for healthy sleep.

I hope it helps.

For further queries, you can consult me.

Thank you.