Tips To Put Your Insomnia To A Rest

Tips To Put Your Insomnia To A Rest
Tips To Put Your Insomnia To A Rest

Do you feel tired and un-refreshed on waking in the morning?

Do you stay that way throughout the day?

Do you have difficulty concentrating during the day?

The World Health Organization says that one-third of the world’s population experience insomnia at some stage in their lives, with approximately five per cent needing medical treatment!

To avoid medical intervention, try these natural techniques and remedies, and help put your insomnia to rest.

1. Relaxation

Relax before going to bed. Do some deep breathing, listen to soft music. According to Dr. Timothy Sharp from Sydney University, avoiding caffeine, alcohol and nicotine will also help.

2. Bedtime routine

Develop a bedtime routine so your body knows it’s time to go to sleep. By winding down your physical activities and following a set routine prior to bed, your body will start to associate some of these actions with going to sleep. Start with a cup of hot milk. Milk contains a protein called tryptophan, which helps to promote sleep. This can be substituted with chamomile tea, which is known to calm the nerves. Follow this with a hot bath or shower, the heat will help to lower your internal body temperature, again telling your body to go to sleep.

3. Your bedroom is for sleeping only

Make your bedroom your sleep-room. Turn the lights off as soon as you get into bed. Don’t read, eat or watch television in your bedroom, or do any activity that is not sleep related. Make sure the room is dark and cozy; include extra pillows on the bed and even some teddy bears. Make your bedroom into a sleep sanctuary, a room that you will instantly feel secure and comfortable in, and best of all, a room that you will crave to sleep in.

4. Calm down and clear your mind

Clear your mind of the day’s activities or things that are due to be done tomorrow. Write a ‘to do’ list for the following day. Organize uniforms, lunches, etc … the night before. Make arrangements earlier than usual so you don’t worry.

5. Give time back to yourself

Instead of trying to cram as much as you can into the day then find you haven’t left much time to sleep, try to find short cuts or solutions to give a little time back to yourself. Make a double casserole and freeze half for another night. Spot clean the house as you go. Have more barbecues, using paper plates (less washing-up). Offer to pay the kids, or the neighbour’s kids, to do some extra chores.

6. A balanced diet helps to make a balanced mind

If you’re lacking in essential vitamins and minerals your body cannot operate at its best. Throw out the junk food and fizzy drinks, and make a new start to good physical and mental health. Add in some regular exercise and watch your body respond with some improved sleep.

7. Don’t lie in bed if you can’t sleep

If you don’t feel sleepy enough to drift off, your mind will probably anguish over the fact that you can’t get to sleep. This will only make it harder to get to sleep each time you experience this. Get out of bed and go into a different room. Do something to distract yourself until you do start to feel sleepy and then try to sleep again later.

8. Medications may interfere with your sleep

It has been shown that some of the medications below may cause sleep problems. Check with your doctor if you are experiencing insomnia and are also taking any of these medications – amphetamines (diet pills), antidepressants, beta blockers (heart and blood pressure), cimetidine (ulcers), clonidine (blood pressure), cortisone, diuretics (fluid), levodopa (parkinsons), methyldopa (blood pressure) and ventolin (asthma).

9. Above all: de-stress

Sharp says that stress is the worst cause of insomnia. Use some of the techniques above and try to remove as much stress out of your life as possible, and finally put your insomnia to rest.

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Insomnia Tips

Insomnia Tips
Insomnia Tips

Insomnia is a very common complaint among older adults. The condition affects more than 70 million Americans. Some symptoms include difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, difficulty with early morning awakening, or not feeling rested by a “good night’s sleep.” Occasionally, insomnia lasts for a short time and can be easily managed. Other times it is a chronic condition, lasting more than six months. This chronic insomnia is more troublesome and can affect work, social relationships, and health. Many people with insomnia are also diagnosed with other conditions such as depression, anxiety, allergies, or pain.

Insomnia treatment begins with what is known as “sleep hygiene.” This includes regular sleep and wake times. You should avoid eating, drinking, or exercising before bedtime. The room should be cool, comfortable, and dark.

Philosophy of Sleep Hygiene

1. keep a regular sleep schedule

2. exercise regularly but avoid exercise before bed

3. go to bed when sleepy

4. do relaxing and enjoyable activities before bed

5. keep the bedroom quiet and comfortable

6. do not eat a large evening meal

7. if you are not sleeping within 20 minutes, get up and return to bed when you are sleepy

8. if you must take a nap, limit it to 30 minutes

9. avoid alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine

10. have your pharmacist check your medications for stimulating drugs

If the “sleep hygiene” methods are not working, then it may me necessary to begin using medication.

If you are still having difficulty getting a good night’s sleep, you should talk to your pharmacist or doctor. The cause of your insomnia will need to be determined and you may need medication to help you sleep. Even if medication is used for insomnia, “sleep hygiene” principles should still be followed and can provide added benefit.

The best medication should act quickly and for a short period of time. This eliminates the “hangover effect” some people experience.

There are many other products that might be used for insomnia. Melatonin has been shown to be helpful in treating insomnia due to melatonin deficiency in elderly patients. It may also improve sleep quality but probably will not increase the length of sleep time. Kava kava and valerian root are also commonly used for the treatment of insomnia. Kava kava has not been shown to be effective in the treatment of chronic insomnia. It is also known to be potentially dangerous to the liver. Valerian root may be helpful in helping one get to sleep as well as improving the quality of sleep.

There are a number of treatment options available for the treatment and management of insomnia. It is important to diagnose and attempt to treat the root or underlying cause first. After that, the practice known as “sleep hygiene” should be practiced. If “sleep hygiene” is not effective, then the use of prescription medication may be warranted.

The cheapest treatment is, of course, “sleep hygiene.” If you try this approach and are unsuccessful, I would recommend over-the-counter diphenhydramine, while still practicing “sleep hygiene.” There are many different types available. The next step would be to visit your doctor for a prescription. As is my usual recommendation, begin with the lowest priced medication.

For insomnia treatment, I would recommend trazodone first. Trazodone represents approximately 40% of all insomnia prescriptions. It is very cheap at less than $10 a month. If that is ineffective, go with temazepam. It is also very popular and cheap. It is, however, a controlled substance which means there is a possibility of addiction.

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