What Is Insomnia? Understanding the Causes, Risks, and How to Get Help

Insomnia affects more than your sleep—it impacts your focus, mood, and overall health.

For many of us, our everyday lives are full of non-stop events, grabbing meals on the go, consuming massive amounts of caffeine, and spending hours on our phones scrolling. Is it any surprise that many of us also struggle with falling and staying asleep?

Struggling to fall asleep or stay asleep isn’t just frustrating—it could be a sign of insomnia, a common yet disruptive sleep disorder that affects millions of people every year.

At Comprehensive Sleep Medicine Associates (CSMA), we help patients uncover the root cause of their insomnia and develop personalized solutions to restore healthy, restful sleep.

What Is Insomnia?

Insomnia is a sleep disorder that makes it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep, or return to sleep after waking too early. It can be short-term (acute), often triggered by stress or life changes, or long-term (chronic), lasting three nights a week or more for several months.

Symptoms include:

• Difficulty falling asleep at night

• Waking up during the night or too early

• Not feeling refreshed after sleep

• Daytime sleepiness, fatigue, or trouble concentrating

What Causes Insomnia?

Insomnia isn’t always caused by one single factor—it often results from a combination of physical, emotional, and environmental triggers. Here are some of the most common contributors:

Stress and Anxiety

Stressful life events—such as job changes, financial worries, or family issues—can activate the brain's fight-or-flight response, making it difficult to relax at night. Anxiety amplifies this effect, often leading to a racing mind that won’t quiet down when it’s time to sleep. Even anticipating a poor night of sleep can create a cycle of worry that keeps you awake.

Poor Sleep Habits

Your nightly routine has a powerful effect on your body’s ability to fall and stay asleep. Irregular sleep schedules, using screens before bed, working late into the evening, or consuming caffeine and alcohol too close to bedtime can all disrupt your natural sleep-wake rhythm. Over time, these habits train your brain to associate your bed with wakefulness rather than rest.

Medical Conditions

Certain medical issues can make it physically uncomfortable—or even impossible—to fall asleep or stay asleep. Conditions such as chronic pain, asthma, acid reflux, or arthritis can cause nighttime discomfort. Breathing disorders such as sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome (RLS) create repeated disruptions throughout the night, leading to unrefreshing sleep. Some prescription medications may also interfere with sleep as a side effect.

Mental Health Disorders

Mental health and sleep are deeply interconnected. Depression can cause both early-morning waking and excessive sleepiness, while post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may lead to nightmares and nighttime hyperarousal. People with bipolar disorder often experience shifts in sleep patterns depending on their mood state. Treating the mental health condition can typically improve sleep—but in many cases, both need to be addressed together.

Understanding the root cause of your sleep troubles is the first step toward finding relief.

How Is Insomnia Treated?

Effective treatment begins with identifying the underlying cause. At CSMA, we use sleep studies and a thorough clinical evaluation to understand your specific challenges. Depending on your needs, treatment may include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) – a proven, non-drug approach to reframe negative sleep thoughts and improve habits.

• Lifestyle and behavioral changes – including optimizing your sleep environment and daily routines.

• Medical intervention – when necessary, medication or treatment of underlying health conditions.

Don’t Settle for Sleepless Nights

Sleep is a cornerstone of physical and mental health. If you’re consistently struggling to get the rest your body needs, it’s time to take action. The team at CSMA is here to help you uncover the "why" behind your insomnia and guide you toward better, more restorative sleep.

Contact the CSMA team in one of our Houston or Austin locations to take the first step in getting the insomnia treatment you need.