What causes restlessness and irritability that make it hard to sleep at night?

Generally, restlessness and irritability at night that make it difficult to fall asleep may be caused by excessive stress, poor environment, anxiety disorder, depression, hyperthyroidism, or other reasons. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly, identify the underlying cause, and receive symptomatic treatment under a doctor's guidance. Specific analyses are as follows:

1. Excessive stress: If life or work pressure is too high, it can increase heart rate and blood pressure, interfering with normal sleep and leading to difficulty falling asleep and mental irritability. In such cases, deep breathing, meditation, and similar relaxation techniques can help alleviate stress.

2. Poor environment: An unsuitable sleeping environment—such as noise, excessive light, uncomfortable temperature, or an uncomfortable bed—can affect sleep quality, resulting in irritability and difficulty falling asleep. Adjusting the sleep environment to ensure quietness and comfort is essential.

3. Anxiety disorder: Often related to psychological and social factors, patients frequently experience difficulty falling asleep due to excessive worry, along with feelings of irritability, tension, fear, and easy fatigue. Patients may take medications such as sertraline hydrochloride tablets, duloxetine hydrochloride enteric-coated tablets, or tandospirone citrate tablets as prescribed by a physician.

4. Depression: Depression affects neurotransmitters in the brain, such as serotonin and norepinephrine. Imbalances in these chemicals can disrupt sleep cycles and emotional regulation, leading to symptoms like difficulty falling asleep and low mood. Patients should take medications such as maprotiline hydrochloride tablets, clomipramine hydrochloride tablets, or amitriptyline hydrochloride tablets as directed by their doctor.

5. Hyperthyroidism: This condition may be associated with genetic factors or radiation exposure. Excessive secretion of thyroid hormones increases metabolism and elevates nervous system excitability, thereby affecting sleep. Symptoms may include excessive sweating, hand tremors, and weight loss. Patients can follow medical advice for drug treatment, commonly using medications such as propylthiouracil tablets, carbimazole tablets, or metoprolol tartrate tablets.

In daily life, it is important to develop healthy habits, avoid vigorous exercise, and maintain a light diet before bedtime, which helps improve sleep quality.