Do you suffer from secondary insomnia? If you suffer from sleeplessness or sleeping problems at night, you may have seasonal affective disorder or SAD, not primary or chronic insomnia. There is evidence that suggests sleep problems may result from seasonal changes, which can affect your mood and your behavior. Many researchers have found that mood and behavior often correlate with complaints about the duration of sleep or the quality of sleep. SAD is a type of depression that typically occurs during the fall and winter seasons, although it may occur in the spring and summer in some people. How do you know if your insomnia is caused by SAD?

You will have to call your doctor to find out whether your insomnia is caused by an underlying condition like SAD or from some other disease process. If SAD does cause your insomnia, you may experience symptoms of depression as well, which include having trouble falling or staying asleep. What causes SAD and the resulting side-effects like sleeplessness? Unfortunately doctors do not know the exact causes of SAD, although many factors that may contribute have been identified, including your body temperature and hormone regulation. If you find you need more sleep than usual, experience insomnia-like symptoms or feel fatigued after sleeping throughout the night, be sure to check in with your doctor.

You may have secondary insomnia, a type of insomnia that is a symptom of an underlying disorder or disease process like SAD. Your doctor or other health provider will work carefully with you to help treat your underlying disorder first, and then work with you to find an appropriate insomnia cure if the need still exists. The signs and symptoms of insomnia often mimic those of other diseases, so make a point not to self-medicate before you see your doctor, no matter how tempting you may find an over-the-counter sleeping aid.