Natural Insomnia Treatments for Chronic Insomnia
Insomnia is defined as difficulty in falling asleep or staying asleep long enough to feel rejuvenated and function efficiently the next day. Further symptoms include waking up frequently or after a little sleep and then inability to fall sleep again.
Insomnia can happen to people of all ages and both genders, although it seems to be higher in women than men. Normal sleep requirements vary according to the age group but an adult needs seven to nine hours of sleep a day.
Insomnia Types
Many people experience some insomnia, usually lasting for short durations of a few days to a month – this is transient or acute type.
Other people suffer long-term insomnia lasting several months or years – chronic insomnia.
Chronic Insomnia Causes & Treatments
How to get help for chronic insomnia is through different methods. To apply insomnia treatments in chronic cases, one must understand the causes to begin with.
Stress
Stress and worry is possibly the number one reason for insomnia. This is because the body reacts to stress in ways that increase alertness and wakefulness. Relaxation programmes such as meditation, yoga and deep-breathing exercises are good insomnia remedies that work to lower the stress and anxiety.
Noise and Activities
An interrupted sleeping environment from noise can affect one’s sleep. So insomnia relief can be as simple as a quiet, noise-free bedroom. Certain activities also contribute to sleeplessness – watching television, doing office work or intense exercise just before bed or while in the bed. Some athletes suffer insomnia due to excessive exercise regimes. Home remedies of insomnia can be just to avoid these activities.
Sleep Routine, Menopause and Pregnancy
Paying attention sleep routines provides a non-medicated method of insomnia remedy. The body functions best on regularly patterns of waking up and going to bed. Changing this regularity can lead to chronic sleeping problems. Some women also experience menopausal insomnia related to hormones. Additionally, incidents of pregnancy insomnia are also due to the hormonal changes that take place at this time.
Mental and Body Health
Poor body health can also contribute to disturbed sleep. Disease such as gastro-intestinal illnesses, asthma, cardiac conditions, overactive thyroid, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, arthritis and other joint problems and enlarged prostrate are connected to poor sleeping. Mental health problems sometimes have insomnia-like symptoms. These include depression, post-traumatic stress, and schizophrenia among others. In such cases both the main illness and the secondary sleeplessness are dealt with in the treatment for insomnia.
Narcotics and Stimulants
Narcotics and stimulants can also lead to insomnia. In treating insomnia doctors advise against taking caffeine, cigarette smoking, alcohol and use of recreational drugs.
Some insomnia remedies, both over-the-counter and prescribed, have side effects of disturbed sleeping patterns. Examples are drugs for high blood pressure, epilepsy and asthma, non-steroid anti-inflammatory treatments, antidepressants and certain hormone therapies.
Medical Treatment
Medications can be given by insomnia doctors. According to research, 95% of cases are treated with medications such as sedatives and sleeping tablets. For people who associate sleep or the bedroom with negative feelings, remedies for insomnia through psychotherapy may be prescribed. Chronic insomnia can be treated with hypnotic meditation for controlled durations.
Whatever the case, often several methods are use to get help for chronic insomnia.
Struggling With Sleep?
You probably know that sleep is one of the healthiest activities you do in your day. So it makes sense that not getting enough sleep is one of the worst things that you can do to your body.
I learned this the hard way.
It all started after I got engaged to my fiance. We had been dating for a while and things were going really great. So I did what any normal, red blooded man would do…I proposed and thought my life would be sweet from there on out.
But the opposite happened.
As soon as she said yes a wave of anxiety rushed through me and I became terrified of the responsibility that I had just volunteered for.
This anxiety manifested itself in a very severe case of insomnia. I couldn’t fall asleep and even when I did, I would wake up at various times throughout the night in a fit of panic and I couldn’t fall back asleep. After a couple weeks of not being able to sleep I was starting to go mad. I would sleep walk through my days and I dreaded going to sleep. No amount of rubbing my back or coaxing by my fiance helped.
I became inconsolable. The weeks stretched out into months and I started getting used to living without sleep. I didn’t realize it at the time, but my mood changed and I was quick to yell at anyone for the slightest annoyance. After a while, my fiance told me that we needed to find a cure.
She was pressuring me to go to the doctor, but I resisted. I didn’t think that my problem was that bad and that I needed medical attention, I told her that I would figure it out on my own and that my insomnia would go away after the wedding.
When it didn’t, I couldn’t justify my situation anymore. Still not wanting to go to see a doctor, I started looking for cures online.
I found this book called Natural Cures For Insomnia and without it, I don’t think I would have survived my marriage (or at least my marriage wouldn’t have survived). The book taught me how to relax and to find the good night sleep that I so desperately needed.
If you are also struggling with sleep, I can’t recommend the book any stronger. Check it out by clicking the link below. You’ll be glad you did.