text: what causes sleeplessness?   common causes to insomnia (sleeplessness) are: jet lag  shift work  wake-sleep pattern disturbances  grief  depression or major depression  worry  anxiety or stress  exhilaration or excitement  bed or bedroom not conducive to sleep  nicotine, alcohol, caffeine, food, or stimulants at bedtime  aging  excessive sleep during the day  excessive physical or intellectual stimulation at bedtime  overactive thyroid  side effect of a new medication  alcoholism or abruptly stopping alcohol after long-term use  not getting enough bright-light exposure during waking hours  abruptly stopping a medication (such as sleeping pills)  medications or illicit "street drugs" (for example, excessive thyroid replacement hormone, amphetamines, caffeine-containing beverages, cocaine, ephedrine, phenylpropanolamine, theophylline derivatives)  withdrawal of medications (such as sedatives or hypnotics)  interference with sleep by various diseases, including an enlarged prostate (men), cystitis (women), copd, pain of arthritis, heartburn, and heart or lung problems  restless leg syndrome