MOVING FORWARD

Insidious Insomnia

We all had nights where we toss and turn and just cannot get to sleep and the following morning we are tired and grumpy.  Insomnia is not just the odd sleepless night; it is a constant condition that can damage health and happiness.

We toss and turn all night wishing there was some way you could just relax enough to go to sleep

We dread going to bed knowing we probably will not be able to sleep

Stress and anger from our day can stay on our subconscious mind making it hard to relax at night.  

If you can find no valid reason for your sleep problems, chances are your problems are stress related.  Work on relieving your stress can help you cure insomnia.

Stress is something we can overcome with persistence.  There are many ways of coping with stress and again, different things work for different people.  Handling anger and stress in a positive way, spending time with other people, exercising, and maintaining a positive outlook, can stop stress and anger from disturbing your sleep.

A sleep diary can be a helpful way to keep track of your sleeplessness.  Awareness of your sleep patterns can help you discover the cause of your insomnia with a chance for a good night’s sleep.

Do not worry about dietary food but instead concentrate deeply on the consumption of the food you eat.

Do not eat after 7pm;

Try an herbal tea such as chamomile tea. 

Chamomile tea is used to reduce stress, promote relaxation and restful sleep.  Chamomile was used thousands of years ago in ancient Egypt, where it was honored for its great curative properties.  It was first used in Europe to help with insomnia.  Used as a tea, chamomile is known to relax smooth muscle tissue.  In this way, it is useful in calming the nervous system and relieving menstrual cramps.

A cup of full milk hot chocolate work for many people.  A simply cup of warm milk worked for others

Chamomile tea is a reliable source for many.

Milk is very valuable in insomnia.  A glass of milk, sweetened with honey, should be taken every night before going to bed in treating this condition.  It acts as a tonic and a tranquillizer.

"The milk I'd say was the greatest of the three because there was no brain activity.

 Play a soothing tape or CD with soothing nature sounds, and   if you cannot sleep, get out of bed.  Grab a book.  Read for half an hour to an hour, and try again.  You may be able to sleep, finally.

Relax your body in a warm tub.

The deep breathing exercises will help you to relax’

Avoid caffeine after dinner.

Caffeine is a drug that is naturally produced in the leaves and seeds of many plants.  Caffeine is defined as a drug because it stimulates the central nervous system, causing increased alertness. 

Caffeine gives most people a temporary energy boost and elevates mood. Caffeine is in tea, coffee, chocolate, many soft drinks, and pain relievers and other over-the-counter medications.

Many people feel that caffeine increases their mental alertness.  Higher doses of caffeine can cause anxiety, dizziness, headaches, and the jitters.  Caffeine can also interfere with normal sleep. It can aggravate certain heart problems. It may also interact with some medications or supplements.  If you are stressed or anxious, caffeine can make these feelings worse.

The Sleep Research Laboratory at Flinders University is trialing a radical new treatment for this condition.

It takes one to two hours to sleep and then  wake up a number of times in the course of a night  with very  broken sleep.  The next day.  You feel quite tired, and irritable.

The problem is, few people persevere.

Ever heard the saying count sheep.  According to Professor Lushington, when you think of an activity like counting sheep you are distracting yourself. You are able to stop thoughts — which for some people can be quite productive.

Anything that stimulates your mind should be avoided prior to going to bed  

 Research indicates that sleeping on your back is the best position for relaxing.  It allows for the deepest, restful breathing. Avoid sleeping on your stomach this causes pressure on your lungs and results in shallow breathing.  The deeper you breathe, the greater the relaxation.

Author Mary Newton

Tuesday, May 20, 2008