Primary insomnia (i.e. no reason)
Poor sleep hygiene (i.e. no regular bedtime, watching bright screens too late, not winding down before bedtime, not sleeping in same location/ bed, falling asleep in front of a TV, then having to wake up to move to bed)
Shift work sleep disorder
Coming off of sedating medicines (i.e. rebound insomnia)
Prescribed stimulants which are long-acting or are taken too late in the day (e.g. Ritalin, Adderall, Vyvanse)
Over-the-counter stimulating medications and herbals
Drinking caffeine WITHIN 12 HOURS IF BEDTIME.
Drinking alcohol too late, leading to initial sedation, but then the sedation wears off a few hours later, allowing the brain pops awake a few hours into sleep
Restless leg syndrome (RLS) or periodic limb movements (PLMS)
Neurological disorders: dementias, Parkinson’s Disease, seizure disorders
REM sleep behavior disorder
Parasomnias: sleep walk, sleep talk, sleep eat, nightmare disorder, and sleep paralysis
Nocturia (i.e. having to urinate at night), then not being able to get back to sleep
Shortness of breath or nocturnal cough (e.g. with asthma, emphysema, congestive heart failure, reflux of stomach acid)
Racing thoughts (e.g. with anxiety, mania, obsessivenes)
Depression
Panic disorder
Pain
Snoring
Obstructive sleep apnea
Central sleep apnea
Loud environment (e.g. bed partner snores, children come into bedroom, pets moving around, outdoor noises)
Charles Tadros, M.D.
August 4, 2021
Saint Louis, Missouri