Cures For Insomnia

No one likes lying awake for hours after hours on end counting every hour, hour by hour hoping that you will not be conscious to see the next hour, but unfortunately that will not be the case. You hear the clicking from the clock on the wall going ‘tick, tok, tick, tok’ against the still of the night, while others around you are fast asleep. If have ever suffered from an episode, worst yet a series of insomnia filled nights then you would find what I just described to be all to true. I, myself have had many insomnia filled nights where every minute that passes by is torture. However, like with all other problems in life you learn to manage them and in some cases completely solve them. I have for the last few years considered myself and insomniac. Under normal circumstances it is almost impossible for me to lie down and fall asleep anytime soon. This made me envious of those who are capable of drifting off the dream land almost instantly upon touching their beds.

Now, what you need to understand is that insomnia can be classified into three types. These are: transient, acute, or chronic.

Transient insomnia lasts for less than a week. It can be caused by another disorder, by changes in the sleep environment, by the timing of sleep, severe depression, or by stress. Its consequences - sleepiness and impaired psychomotor performance - are similar to those of sleep deprivation.

Acute insomnia is the inability to consistently sleep well for a period of less than a month.

Chronic insomnia lasts for longer than a month. It can be caused by another disorder, or it can be a primary disorder. Its effects can vary according to its causes. They might include muscular fatigue, hallucinations, and/or mental fatigue; but people with chronic insomnia often show increased alertness.[citation needed] Some people that live with this disorder see things as if they are happening in slow motion, wherein moving objects seem to blend together.

Now that we know the types of insomnia, we need to identify insomnia causes.  Like any other medical condition, the causes vary from person to person despite the symptoms being the same.  

The four main insomnia causes are:

1. Anxiety

2. Stress

3. Depression

4. Medical complications

The big question is: How do you stop insomnia and enjoy a good night’s sleep?

The first thought that would have already crossed your mind is medication (sleeping pills). This is a common consideration as a "quick fix" to solve the problem. However, This is not a recommended route unless it is an absolutely necessary and no other solutions will work. This will be discussed a little more later on. After much studying this topic and from my personal experiences I have comprised a list of solutions that work for me.

1. "De-stressing". By this I mean that during the daytime or before bedtime, start adopting routines and habits that allow you to get built up stress from the day released. This is important as built up stress from the day will result in difficulties in falling asleep and your quality of sleep will be diminished as in most cases the stress will manifest itself in your dreams and the cycle will continue day after day. Some de-stressing activities are: yoga, stretching and a light workout routine, or even talking to a close friend or family member with whom you can get things bothering you off your mind and help you move on from them.

2. Setting and earlier bedtime. If your insomnia keeps you up until 4 am for example, after going to bed from 10pm, then try not going to bed at 1 pm anymore. You can try an earlier time or a later one. I can attest to this as it has worked for me.

3. Taking naps during the day. If possible, take a short rest during the afternoon where you can re-charge and go right back into your regular routine. This rest is not intended to make up for your full restful sleep time, but to act as a bridge between your full daytime operating mode and your shift into a less intense mode.

4. Occupying your time right until you go to sleep. This is basically being as busy as you can be during the hours just before you go to sleep. This does not mean full out activities that will have you completely exhausted before going to bed. It means that you occupy your time with a hobby, studying, playing a games etc. Activities that would allow you to drain some energy and wear down your body enough that you can ease into sleep easier.

5. The final insomnia cure is not so much a “way” but it’s more trial an error. Everyone is different. These methods may work perfectly for some, while they may have no effect on others. The important thing is that you try for yourself and find ways that work for you and your specific needs. However, if despite trying everything, nothing works for you and your situation is severe enough that it is negatively affecting your life and your health, then you would need to seek medical help as discussed above.