I couldn't sleep in the second half of the night

Not being able to fall asleep in the second half of the night is the most obvious symptom of insomnia. There are many reasons for insomnia, the biggest of which is that there are certain problems with the insomniac's sleeping environment. For example, strong light or too much noise can cause insomnia. In addition, some common mental illnesses, such as anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, etc., can also cause insomnia in patients.

1. Causes of insomnia in the second half of the night

First of all, environmental conditions are an important cause of insomnia, but insomnia caused by this factor is easy to cure. Noise or light can affect sleep, as can high temperature or cold weather, uncomfortable bedding, a bed that is too hard or a quilt that is too thick. In this case, the patient can change his sleeping environment.

Some common mental illnesses, such as depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder or borderline personality disorder, can also cause patients to suffer from insomnia in the second half of the night.

Insomnia in the second half of the night may also be affected by psychosocial factors. Various trivial or important things in life may cause us to suffer from insomnia. For example: worrying about your own or your family’s illness, worrying about surgery, the death of a loved one, being nervous about exams, etc. are all reasons for insomnia in the second half of the night.

Some physiological factors can also cause insomnia in the second half of the night. For example, traveling across time zones or switching from day shift to night shift can cause insomnia because our body clock has not yet fully adapted to the new rhythm. If insomnia is caused by physiological factors, patients must learn to adjust their biological clock.

2. What to do if you have insomnia in the second half of the night

1. A normal and natural mentality

There is no need to worry too much if you suffer from insomnia. The more nervous you are, the more you force yourself to fall asleep, which will be counterproductive. Some people become even more nervous and uneasy when they suffer from insomnia for several consecutive days, believing that if they continue to suffer from insomnia, their brain will not get enough rest and they will either die young or get sick. The excessive anxiety caused by this kind of worry is more harmful to sleep itself and health.

2. Relax your body and mind, and help you sleep

Take a walk outdoors for a while before going to bed to relax your mind, take a bath or soak your feet in hot water before going to bed, and then go to bed. This will help you fall asleep smoothly. There are many specific methods to induce the human body to enter a sleep state, for example: relaxation exercises, which have been popular among the people and can be used as a reference.

3. Close your eyes and enter a state of tranquility

After going to bed, close your eyes first, then open them slightly to maintain some contact with the outside world. Although mental activities are still functioning, the tension of sympathetic nerve activity has greatly decreased, inducing the body to gradually enter a sleepy state.

4. Find and eliminate the cause of insomnia

There are many factors that cause insomnia, as mentioned before. It is not difficult to find them as long as you pay a little attention. If the cause is eliminated, insomnia will heal itself. If insomnia symptoms are caused by illness, seek medical attention promptly. Don't think that insomnia is just a minor problem and not a disease and delay treatment.