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Do you dread going to sleep at night, thinking it will be another agonizing insomnia experience of tossing and turning in bed? This article aims to unravel the surprising facts about insomnia so you will know the root cause of sleeplessness and find the right insomnia cure for you. Should you already know some facts about insomnia, you’ll learn more than just the basics from this informative article.

Basic Facts About Insomnia

Simply put, insomnia is the inability to fall asleep when you want to. It is characterized by little or poor-quality sleep.

There are three types of insomnia depending on the duration of the condition: 1) Transient or short-term insomnia, as the term implies, lasts only for one night to a few weeks; 2) Intermittent insomnia is short-term but recurring; 3) Chronic insomnia is the most serious as it happens at least three times a week for a month, year, or even a lifetime.

A main effect of insomnia is excessive sleepiness, which can be accompanied with restlessness, fatigue, lethargy, and irritability, among others. It can also cause problems in concentrating and focusing. The insomniac is there but not quite there. This is most common among chronic insomnia sufferers, who may find themselves in a constant state of limbo.

Insomniacs can be also more accident-prone. The cause of one out of every five highway accidents is the driver falling asleep momentarily.

In the long term, insomnia can affect relationships at home and work, hobbies, recreational activities, and general state of mind. More than just a sleep disorder, it can greatly affect quality of life; that’s why it is vital to know the facts about insomnia.

Insomnia Causes

Sleeplessness may be caused by any or a combination of the following:

1) Diet high in stimulants. Caffeine is the main culprit. Drinking too much coffee, tea, colas and eating too much chocolate, especially in the evening, can cause problems sleeping. Alcohol is also not recommended – a nightcap may induce sleepiness at first, but prevents you from going into deep sleep, or the REM state, and thus, lets you sleep less soundly.

2) Environmental factors. Noise, light, sudden weather changes, a room that is too hot or too cold, can disturb sleep, if not delay it.

3) Change in routine. Traveling often, sleeping in an unfamiliar bed, and a job with variable schedules are examples of routine interruptions that can cause insomnia, though short-term.

4) Stress or stressful life events. Work-related problems, relationship problems, anticipation of an upcoming event like a presentation or medical exam, and sudden life events like divorce and death of a loved one are only some examples. Anxiety related to stress may very well be the number one reason why you can’t catch a wink.

5) Medical conditions. Asthma, eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia, peptic ulcer, anxiety disorders, can prevent you from falling into restful slumber.

6) Hormones. A woman suffering from menopausal symptoms like hot flushes and night sweating may have trouble sleeping. Insomnia in teenagers, meanwhile, occur mostly because of the onset of puberty, where sleeping needs and sleeping patterns usually change.

Insomnia Treatment the Natural Way

There are different insomnia treatment options, ranging from the natural insomnia herbs to the medical. Medical treatment, usually through sleeping pills, have unpleasant side effects and can ironically cause further insomnia in the long run, so therapy and natural methods are safer and more effective. Below are some examples.

1) Aromatherapy. For bouts of sleeplessness from time to time, taking a bath before going to bed using a few drops of essential oils like lavender, marjoram, or ylang-ylang can help. Or you can drop these oils directly on your pillow.

2) Flower essence therapy. White chestnut particularly helps cure insomnia gradually, usually in just a few weeks. Flower remedies can be bought in some health food stores or via mail in some websites.

3) Herbal therapy. Valerian is known as the best herbal treatment for insomnia, as it decreases nervous system activity. Use as per dosage instructions in the pack.

4) Relaxation therapy. This involves progressive muscle relaxation training, imagery training, hypnosis among others. This can be learned alone or with the help of a qualified practitioner. These techniques can relax your body and mind and make you feel drowsy and ready for bed.

5) Reconditioning. This method involves re-associating the bedroom and bed with sleep only. In applying this technique, activities like eating, reading, and watching TV cannot be done in bed. Napping for more than 30 to 45 minutes during the day is also discouraged. A fixed wake-up time is also scheduled to train the body.

Knowing these facts about insomnia, you and your loved ones can deal with the condition better should it come.

I find it hard to concentrate and my mood is pretty screwed when i dont get enough sleep. My temper can be really short and i get even madder whenever my kids gets on my nerves and keeps bugging the heck out of me. In fact, i just threw my kid out of the room as he keeps asking me to do this and do that for him and i have a few important posts to write.

My rhythm is breaking up and if i dont make him stay outside, i’m afraid i just might cane him. I’m going back to bed after i’m done with these few posts. Maybe when i wake up later, i’ll take the kids out for some fresh air, or have some food outside at a nice restaurant. That’ll make everyone happy.

Ok, i’m done for the night. I just downed a whole cup of chamomile and lavender tea and it’s working its magic now. I’m feeling sleepy and i just want to fall asleep straightaway as soon as my head hit the pillow. I gotta wake up early tomorrow morning to help my kid with his writing. And i really dont feel like getting up t 11am. 1pm more like it.
Damn, i have a feeling i’m so gonna regret this whole Chinese Ed thingy. So much homework to do, especially writing. Too bad hubby insists he wants our kids equipped with an extra language, who am i to argue. Whatever it is, it’s for their own good and i hope they wont blame us for what we’re gonna put them through for the next 12 years, lol.

Insomnia is a disorder where a person is unable to sleep for extended periods of time. Lack of sleep can be hazardous because the person who suffers from insomnia is tired all of the time which can lead to bad judgment calls and failure to being productive. Sleep grants the body to recover and refresh itself on a daily basis.

Side Effects Of Insomnia

Although insomnia can strike anyone at anytime, a person who has a high-pressure job, or a lot of worry or stress is more apt to be stricken with it.

When your body gets enough rest, you’re able to stay more focused on the tasks of the day. Lack of sleep can cause you to have slow or delayed reactions. This is blamed for millions of auto accidents each year.

There are also other affects that insomnia can cause other than lack of sleep. A person who suffers from insomnia also risks serious illness because the body’s immune system can be affected. A healthy body requires that you sleep at least eight hours a night.

Studies Of Insomnia

Studies have indicated that a hormone called Melatonin, referred to as the insomnia hormone, is responsible for putting the body to sleep. This hormone is produced in the pineal gland located in the brain. When the body does not produce enough Melatonin, insomnia is the result. When the correct amount of Melatonin is produced, it acts as a natural relaxant in the body and has even been proven to reduce body temperature.

There’s hope for those who suffer from insomnia. Medical breakthroughs happen every day. With the advances in medical science, Melatonin can now be produced synthetically.

Studies have shown that the body produces Melatonin at night or in the dark. When it is released into the body, tiredness and eventually sleep occurs.

Other studies have concluded that Melatonin is reduced, as we get older. What this means is that the elderly have more chance of suffering from insomnia than one of a younger age. Often times, a physician will prescribe an insomnia hormone in order for the person suffering to get the proper amount of sleep.

Understanding Insomnia

It is important to comprehend that the insomnia hormone cannot be thought of as a cure for insomnia it is only a treatment. It is crucial that you see your doctor in order to rule out any underlying problems. Only he or she has the ability to determine if Melatonin is the right course of treatment for you.

Insomnia is a horrible disorder that can be devastating to those who suffer from it. With medical science making breakthroughs each day, it is one disorder that can be eliminated. With proper medication, those who suffer from insomnia can lead healthy, restful lives.

I just read that in order to live a longer life, we should get at east 7 hours of optimal sleep each night. Frankly speaking, i dont even get 4 hours sleep each night, what 7 hours. I dont think i’ll ever get a good nights sleep until my baby can sleep through the night without demanding for a feed each time he wakes up.

Some of the health implications of not getting enough sleep is high blood pressure, which is a contributing factor to heart disease. But dont think you are disease free if you sleep longer than 7 hours a day. There may be some link to other health problems like depression or cancer-related fatigue.

My friend told me her newborn baby has difficulty sleeping. As a result, he’s gaining much weight since birth. She’s also losing sleep as a result from his contant crying. She called and asked me what to do as she’s rather worried. But then, baby’s doctor gave him a clean bill of health.

Hmm, if that’s the case maybe she can try getting him a Tranquil Moments, a kind of sound machine to help him sleep better? It says there on the website that:

“Based on more than 23 years of scientific research, the Tranquil Moments Sound Therapy white noise machine is a natural sleep aid that will help you achieve deeper states of sleep, relaxation and renewal. This innovative sleep sound machine uses five nature soundscapes and seven engineered sounds developed by the Center of Neuroacoustic Research. It plays sounds based on Delta, Alpha, or Theta brainwaves—coaxing your brain to “match” these frequencies and enter healthier states of repose.”

Well, i hope this helps

Do you know that color plays an important role when it comes to your bedroom. This influences your quality sleep a lot. A friend of mine painted her bedroom in a shade of fuschia. It’s a very bright and hot pink color. She told me it kept her up every single night since then. She changed it to a calmer shade of Lavender and it helped her sleep better.

Apart from wallpaint, the color of your bedsheets are also important as it affects your mood too. If you have trouble sleeping, why not buy some new ones in more soothing colors. I found some really nice ones at Terry’s Fabrics. I love their quilted bedspreads and would like to get some for myself. Too bad they dont ship to Malaysia.

Cant sleep? Go get yourself a glass of milk. Mlik contains the amino acid tryptophan, which can help you sleep netter. If you do not like dairy products, perhaps make yourself a cup of soothing lavender tea. Lavender flowers can be easily purchased from health stores and tea galleries. Both works for me.

Do keep your sleeping environment quiet, or play some soothing music in the background to relax the mind. Forget the sheep counting method. It only frustrates you more when you miss a count or think you missed a count, lol. And also, do make sure the color of your bedroom is calming enough. White and beiges are sure-wins. Good night.

My friend told me her newborn baby has difficulty sleeping. As a result, he’s gaining much weight since birth. She’s also losing sleep as a result from his contant crying. She called and asked me what to do as she’s rather worried. But then, baby’s doctor gave him a clean bill of health.

Hmm, if that’s the case maybe she can try getting him a Tranquil Moments, a kind of sound machines to help him sleep better? It says there on the website that:

“Based on more than 23 years of scientific research, the Tranquil Moments Sound Therapy white noise machine is a natural sleep aid that will help you achieve deeper states of sleep, relaxation and renewal. This innovative sleep sound machine uses five nature soundscapes and seven engineered sounds developed by the Center of Neuroacoustic Research. It plays sounds based on Delta, Alpha, or Theta brainwaves—coaxing your brain to “match” these frequencies and enter healthier states of repose.”

Well, i hope this helps

Not getting enough sleep can contribute to your expanding waistline. people who only get 4 hours of sleep had difficulty processing carbohydrates, says a study at the University of Chicago Medical Center. The researchers explain that the body lacks the energy to do its normal day-to-day functions - including burning calories efficiently when it is exhausted.

People who lose sleep may also continue to feel hungry despite adequate food intake, as sleep loss has been shown to affect the secretion of cortisol, a hormone that regulates appetite. So, do get at least 6 - 8 hours of sleep every night. Geee…. it’s getting late now. I should really hit the sack