Tips for handling insomnia
If you dealing with insomnia, it means that you have real trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. This is no joke.
Insomnia can leave you feeling desperate and frustrated when you just can’t get a good night’s rest. Here are some helpful things to know so you can this problem better.
INSOMNIA ISN’T JUST A MIND THING
While insomnia can have psychological causes, the fact remains that its no.1 cause is stress. Other non-psychological and common causes of insomnia are poor sleep hygiene, chronic pain and sleep apnea, among others.
GETTING A DRINK WILL NOT NECESSARILY HELP
If you think having some alcohol before bedtime will help you get some sleep, think again. The idea that one or two glasses of alcohol will help you fall asleep is at best a myth and at times a fluke. This is because when this method is applied, it doesn’t really work. Why? Because alcohol in the body most often leads to a restless and short-lived sleep time.
EXERCISE HELPS
Regular exercise does help to stimulate better sleep. However it is better to complete exercises at least two or three hours before bed time. The reason is that strenuous exercise often increases the body temperature and makes one more alert. An increased body temperature and a more alert mind is not what you want at night, especially if you’re dealing with insomnia.
SCREEN TIME MIGHT NOT BE A GOOD IDEA
Watching TV or working on the computer before going to bed is more likely to stimulate you than put you to sleep. The light and noise from those devices will engage your senses and in turn reduce brain melatonin levels. This isn’t so good because increased melatonin levels will help you fall asleep.
Instead of TV or computer, try listening to soft music.
SLEEP MEDICATIONS ARE NOT RISK FREE
Sleeping pills are safer and more effective today but they, like all medications, still carry potential risks, like over-dosing and dependency.
While sleeping pills may relieve insomnia, it can only be temporary as they do not cure insomnia. It is very important to consult a doctor before using them.
YOU CAN’T MAKE UP FOR LOST SLEEP
You can’t really catch up on sleep that you lost and sleeping in for a few days may upset your body’s natural cycle. The best thing to is keep a regular sleep schedule. This is because disruptions caused by trying sleep longer to recover lost sleep can make it harder to sleep the next time
YOU CAN’T LEARN TO NEED LESS SLEEP
We all have a set sleep need and for most adults, it’s 7-8 hours. While you can learn to manage yourself with less sleep, it does not mean that you can train your body to need less sleep. Believing this can be dangerous because sleep deprivation can lead to chronic tiredness, poor focus and memory.
Many times, this has been the cause of poor work performance, poor health and many accidents.
INSOMNIA DOESN’T RESOLVE ON ITS OWN
You need to discover the cause of your insomnia; it may be a sleep disorder or other issues like stress or certain medication(s) that you’re taking.
It is always better to consult and work with your doctor to resolve it than just expecting it to just go away.
Hopefully, these tips for handling insomnia will make the difference for you.