Why can't I fall asleep at night recently?

Recently, difficulty falling asleep at night may be caused by excessive stress, overuse of electronic devices before bedtime, neurasthenia, anxiety disorder, hyperthyroidism, etc. This can be improved by adjusting mindset, changing habits, or using medication. If insomnia lasts more than two weeks or is accompanied by palpitations and mood disturbances, medical attention should be sought promptly.

1. Excessive stress: Accumulated pressure from work, study, or family life can keep the brain in a state of continuous excitement, making it difficult to relax at night and leading to trouble falling asleep, often accompanied by vivid dreams and frequent awakenings. It is recommended to relieve stress before bed by listening to soft music or taking a warm bath, avoid overthinking, and try meditation to relax both body and mind.

2. Overuse of electronic devices before bedtime: Prolonged use of phones, computers, or other screens before sleep exposes the eyes to blue light, which suppresses melatonin secretion and disrupts the sleep-wake cycle, resulting in delayed sleep onset and light sleep during the night. It is advised to stop using electronic devices one hour before bedtime. Reading printed books instead and creating a comfortable sleeping environment can help.

3. Neurasthenia: Long-term mental tension and anxiety can lead to nervous system dysfunction, causing difficulty falling asleep, light sleep, and easy awakening, along with dizziness, fatigue, and poor concentration during the day. It is recommended to take medications such as oryzanol tablets, vitamin B1 tablets, or estazolam tablets under medical supervision to improve symptoms.

4. Anxiety disorder: Persistent anxiety disrupts the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain, worsening anxious feelings at night and leading to difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings during sleep, restlessness, and unfounded worries. Medications such as buspirone hydrochloride tablets, lorazepam tablets, or sertraline tablets may be used under a doctor’s guidance to alleviate symptoms.

5. Hyperthyroidism: Excessive secretion of thyroid hormones accelerates metabolism and increases nervous system excitability, resulting in difficulty falling asleep, frequent dreams at night, as well as palpitations, excessive sweating, increased appetite, and weight loss. Medications such as methimazole tablets, propylthiouracil tablets, or propranolol tablets should be used under medical supervision to manage symptoms.

Daily care tips include maintaining a regular sleep schedule by going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, avoiding coffee and strong tea before bedtime, keeping the bedroom quiet and dark, engaging in moderate outdoor activities, and drinking a small amount of warm milk before bed to promote sleep.