Not Sleeping Well? There May Be a Medical Cause

Stress

Stress can be acute, a reaction to unexpected, difficult life events, such as the death of a loved one, or the loss of a job—and it’s also a common source of sleeping problems. A survey by the American Psychological Foundation found 43 percent of adults said stress kept them awakeduring the past month. Stress can be chronic, as well—a response to daily life, and the pressures of work, family, relationships, and finances. Both types of stress can lead to insomnia. Stress and sleep influence one another: Stress creates sleeplessness, and poor sleep makes us more prone to stress. Stress reverberates throughout the body, and may cause muscle tension and pain, upset stomach, appetite changes, and fatigue.