Insomnia is a condition that affects one in three people every year. Insomnia has many causes; a leading cause of insomnia is depression. When this is the cause, a patient's doctor may prescribe Zoloft for the insomnia. However, depression is only one cause of insomnia.
What Causes Insomnia?
There are many causes of insomnia and other sleep problems. One of the most common causes of insomnia is stress. This can be a long-lasting stress or stress that only lasts a few days. For example, the stress caused the death of a close family member may be long-lasting, while the stress caused by an incident at work may be short-term.
Poor sleep habits also cause insomnia. For example, a person watches TV in bed or does not stick to regular schedule when they go to bed; this may cause insomnia. This problem is only made worse by the fact that a person in this type of situation may lay there and worry about what time it is, thus causing more stress leading to more insomnia.
The use of drugs and alcohol may also cause insomnia. This is particularly true if the drugs are stimulants in nature and when alcohol is used excessively and or often. Smoking also falls under this category as it is a stimulant and may cause insomnia as well. Doctors now suggest that not exercising enough is also a possible cause of insomnia.
Other causes of insomnia include chronic illnesses. Illnesses such as diabetes or other health problems that caused things like chronic pain may cause insomnia. Breathing problems can also contribute to insomnia.
Treating Depression and Insomnia with Zoloft
One of the main causes of insomnia is depression and anxiety. Both of these causes of insomnia are treated with Zoloft at times. Using Zoloft to treat insomnia does not necessarily treat the insomnia itself, as the insomnia is actually a symptom of the deeper problem. In this case, the deeper problem would be depression.
Symptoms of depression include insomnia, feelings of sadness, hopelessness or emptiness, lack of energy, difficulty focusing, appetite changes, crying often or easily, and thoughts of suicide. Each of these symptoms including insomnia is treated with Zoloft and similar medications, depending on what a person’s doctor feels is best for them.
There is some suggestion that not only does depression cause insomnia but that insomnia may also cause depression as well. Or at the very least, it may be a contributing factor. However, generally speaking, it is safe to say that this usually works the other way around. Usually, the insomnia will be caused by the depression.
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