October 25, 2009
Common Reasons For Insomnia And How You Can Get Back To Sleep
At some point in time, we all have trouble sleeping at night. As far as reasons for insomnia go, there are lots of possibilities. Sometimes, it’s only one or two sleepless nights. Thinking about a stressful event, for instance, can sometimes cause it. In fact, you may find yourself losing sleep on the night before a major meeting at work. Some people deal with insomnia on a regular basis, though.
What you might not realize about insomnia is that it’s not just about having trouble getting to sleep. Trouble staying asleep is also part of the definition of insomnia. So, if you wake up a lot in the night, you probably have a form of insomnia.
Remember, too, that you can’t allow yourself to judge how you sleep by how other people sleep. Your sleep schedule needs to be unique to you. The seven to eight hours of sleep thing is a bit of a myth. So, you only need to concern yourself with how much sleep you need to feel alert each day. If you get that amount, fine, but, if not, you may have an insomnia problem.
As far as your reasons for insomnia go, there are many possibilities. It depends if it’s a short-term issue or a chronic problem. Temporary things that could cause insomnia are things like an illness or general stress. Also, sound and light can play a major role in a temporary sleeping problem.
Chronic insomnia involves a whole other set of causes, though. Either a long-term mental or physical medical problem is usually the cause of it. Depression is, for example, a common cause of chronic insomnia. Acid reflux, COPD and sleep apnea can also be major contributors.
Insomnia problems can strike anyone, but they’re more common among certain types of people. For instance, women going through menopause often have trouble sleeping. Older people also are at risk, since their bodies don’t produce as much of the sleep-inducing hormone, melatonin. Other insomniacs can include people who frequently get jet lag, students and night workers.
No matter what causes your insomnia, there are ways to fix it. One treatment is prescription medication. Your doctor may decide that that’s the best way to treat your problem. Be aware that they can cause some side effects and some of them can be addictive, though.
No matter what reasons for insomnia apply to you, you might also be able to use a natural remedy for insomnia approach to treatment. One natural treatment you could try, for example, is taking melatonin supplements. There are dozens of other supplements and herbs that could help you sleep, too.