Why Can't I Sleep at Night? 5 Surprising Possibilities

Do you lay awake at night wondering why can’t I sleep at night? You’re not alone. Over 60 million Americans suffer from insomnia too.

But along with not being able to sleep at night come the knock-on effects to your daytimes. With daytime fatigue being a major concern for many and wider health problems such as stress, anxiety, and depression.

So why can’t you sleep at night? You might think that your mind is too full of swirling thoughts and you can’t settle. Or you may be able to fall asleep fine, but you have a restless night and keep waking up.

In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the reasons that you might find it difficult to drop off and to stay asleep. Here are five surprising possibilities for why you can’t sleep.

1. Back Pain

For anyone who has experienced back pain before, you’ll know how it can be a challenge to get the right sleeping position. You roll over and suddenly you find yourself in immense pain.

The pain that you experience when trying to sleep when you’ve got back pain can be so unbearable it keeps you awake for a long time.

If you are lucky enough to manage to get to sleep, it can often be short-lived. You might roll over or twitch in your sleep and you’re back to square one.

If you are someone that experiences back pain and you struggle with sleep, try stretching your back every day.

When you go to sleep at night, be sure and put a pillow under your knees as this will help alleviate the pressure on your spine. Hopefully, that should ensure you are comfortable enough to enjoy a rested night’s sleep.

2. You’re Depressed

Depression can send your sleep in either direction. If you’re depressed, you might find yourself sleeping all of the time or equally, unable to sleep at night.

Not being able to get to sleep is one thing, but people that experience depression often struggle to stay asleep once they do drop off.

If you are experiencing depression-related insomnia, speak with your doctor or a counselor. There are several ways of coping with depression. Your doctor may recommend sleep aids or antidepressants.

On the other hand, talking therapy such as cognitive behavior therapy might help you develop coping strategies to manage your depression yourself.

In addition to this, there are stress management courses that might be useful for fighting the causes of depression.

3. You're Doing Too Much Before Bed

If you’re someone who is constantly on the go until the minute they fall into bed, how do you expect to be able to fall asleep straight away?

Sure, you’ve probably burnt through a lot of energy throughout the day and are naturally tired, but your brain hasn’t had time to wind down.

Allowing yourself that all-important time to relax before you go to bed is essential in helping you to get the most restful sleep possible.

Stop rushing around so late in the day. Try and find some time to relax and unwind before you even get into bed. This may mean adjusting your daily routine to accommodate. However, if you’re sleeping better on a night, you might be more productive the following morning.

Try taking a bath or reading a book before you go to bed. Many people swear by meditation or other relaxation techniques. Find something that works for you and add it to your nightly routine.

4. You Nap During the Day

Given half a chance, most of us would take a nap during the day if we could. A little forty-winks here-and-there never hurt anyone, right?

Well, that’s not quite true. If you’re very often napping later in the afternoon, then it will impact your ability to sleep in the night.

That said, there are a number of great health benefits associated with taking a short nap. Napping can help with your mood, it can give you a much-needed boost of energy, and it can help you to perform better mentally.

So napping in moderation is a good thing.

The trick is to keep your naps to less than 90-minutes. Anything after that and you’ll fall into a deeper sleep. In addition to this, keep your naps to the earlier part of the afternoon. Anything past 4:00 p.m. will definitely impact your nighttime sleep.

5. You Have Blue Light Insomnia

Blue light insomnia is probably one of the biggest reasons that people struggle to sleep these days. It is often one of the most overlooked reasons too.

Blue light insomnia relates to the use of smartphones and other devices before bedtime.

Devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and even TVs all emit blue light from their screens. This blue light suppresses your body’s natural production of the sleep hormone melatonin.

It is recommended that you don’t use your devices during the hour before you go to bed. That way, your melatonin levels won’t be affected.

Instead of scrolling through Facebook and Instagram late into the evening, why not read a book? If you’re looking for a different way to relax on a night instead of watching the TV, you could opt to play a board game instead.