Insomnia Cures

Antonio LeMaire asked:


The terms “Sleep Aids” and “Sleeping Aids” refer to the various therapies, medications and supplements that can help you enjoy a sound and peaceful sleep when stress, travel or other disruptions keep you awake. Sleeping aids and pills are nothing new as our ancestors have been using herbal potions and the opiate laudanum to induce sleep for centuries.

The early 1900s witnessed the introduction of barbiturates, and in the 1960s, benzodiazepines arrived on the scene. There are many safer classes of drugs like non benzodiazepine hypnotics that can easily help us to overcome sleeping disorders today.

Even though you might know the tips for a good night’s sleep like sticking to a regular sleep schedule, regular exercise, avoiding caffeine and daytime naps, controlling stress, and relaxation before bedtime, sleep can still elude you. Sleeping aids can help you in such circumstances. They are available in many forms that cure and treat various types of sleeping disorders.

Sleeping Disorders

Sleeping disorders may appear in many forms, like failing to sleep the whole night, feeling sleepy and tired during the day though you had enough sleep, having crawling sensations in your legs, and snoring. Some of the most commonly occurring sleeping disorders are:

* Insomnia – failing to sleep

* Sleep apnea - breathing interruptions during sleep

* Restless legs syndrome - a tingling or prickly sensation in the legs

* Narcolepsy - sleep attacks during the day

* Parasomnias- nightmares, night terrors, sleep walking, sleep talking, head banging, wetting the bed and grinding your teeth

Insomnia

Insomnia is a common type of sleeping disorder where you have trouble falling or staying asleep, or you wake up feeling dull and tired. People with insomnia would have some or all of the following symptoms:

* Trouble falling asleep

* Waking up repeatedly during the night, and not able to go back to sleep again

* Waking up too early in the morning

* Feeling tired upon waking

* Sleepiness and sleep attacks during the day

* Irritability

* Problems with concentration or memory

Insomnia Causes

There are many reasons for insomnia. Insomnia is sometimes caused by a medical problem (primary insomnia). It can also be caused by depression and certain medications. Insomnia can either be a short term problem lasting less than a month (acute) or a problem that lasts longer than a month (chronic).

The main causes of acute insomnia include:

* Stress

* Illness

* Emotional or physical discomfort

* Environmental aspects like noise, light, or extreme temperatures that affect sleep

* Specific medications used for the treatment of colds, allergies, depression, high blood pressure and asthma

* Working a night shift.

The causes of chronic insomnia include:

* Depression and/or anxiety

* Chronic stress

* Pain or discomfort at night

Insomnia Treatment

There are many treatments for sleep disorders. Sometimes just having regular sleep habits, lifestyle change, exercise etc. can help in overcoming insomnia and other sleeping disorders. However, it is always best to ask a doctor for a proper diagnosis to identify the cause of insomnia to ensure you are prescribed the correct treatment.

There are medical as well as self-help non-medical treatments for insomnia.

Medical Treatment of Insomnia

Using medication is the most popular way of treating insomnia. Reports say that almost 25% of Americans take some form of medication for the treatment of insomnia. You are advised to take insomnia medications only when:

* The cause of insomnia has been identified

* Sleep troubles cause problems in carrying out daily activities

* Behavioral approaches are ineffective

* Insomnia is acute (temporary or short-term.)

* Insomnia occurs along with a known medical or physical condition

Insomnia Medication Treatment Guidelines

When you start taking medication for the treatment of insomnia, be sure the medication:

* Starts with the lowest possible effective dose

* Is for a short term, if used nightly

* Is alternating or sporadic, if used long-term

* Is accompanied with good sleep practices and/or behavioral approaches

Hypnotics, Antidepressants and Anxiolytics

The choice of a prescription medication for the treatment of insomnia greatly depends on the patient’s diagnosis, history of drug or alcohol abuse, age, medical conditions etc. Generally, there are three types of prescription medications for the treatment of insomnia: Hypnotics, Antidepressants and Anxiolytics.

Hypnotics are the most effective prescription sleeping aids that induce and promote sleep.

Antidepressants are the best solution for the treatment of insomnia when the cause of the sleeping disorder is related to depression. However, a patient should discuss the problem with a doctor as some antidepressants can also cause insomnia.

Anxiolytics are anti-anxiety drugs prescribed for the treatment of insomnia due to anxiety.

Self-Help & Non-Medicinal Insomnia Treatments

Self-help and non-medicinal treatments of insomnia may include:

* Improved sleep habits and environment (sleep hygiene)

* Stress management and relaxation techniques

* Acupuncture and massage

* Cognitive behavior therapy and

* Herbal remedies, nutritional supplements, and homeopathic remedies

Some people prefer non-medicinal and self–help strategies to treat insomnia as they tend to be less addictive, and drug-free alternatives have fewer side effects. Self-help and non-medicinal treatments of insomnia may also be less expensive than prescription drugs.

Effectiveness of Hypnotics for Insomnia Treatment

Clinical studies have examined data that proves the efficacy and reliability of hypnotics like Rozerem for the treatment of insomnia. After comparing hypnotics to a placebo for the treatment of insomnia, experts have come to the conclusion that hypnotics like Rozerem:

* shorten the time needed to fall asleep

* increase the total sleep time

* decrease the number of repeated awakenings

* enhance sleep quality



insomnia

Jayden N asked:


Lately it’s been taking me at least 3 hours to fall asleep, earlier this week it took me 6 hours to fall asleep.

And I’ve been waking up unrefreshed.

Do I have insomnia?

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Cindy Heller asked:


In broad terms, insomnia refers to difficulty experienced in falling asleep or maintaining restoring/refreshing sleep. It is a topic of great debate whether insomnia is a symptom or disorder. Whether disorder or symptom, different kinds of insomnia have been recognized and are described here.

Kinds of Insomnia

Sleep Onset Insomnia is also called Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome because the patient delays the major sleep episode and this delay causes sleeplessness and difficulty in getting up at the desired time. Psycho-Physiological Insomnia is caused due to anxiety or psychological problem which creates physical symptoms and prevents sleep. In Idiopathic type of insomnia, the nervous system becomes incapable of controlling the sleeping and waking mechanism of the body. The result is a lifelong failure to get proper sleep. It usually starts in early childhood.

Childhood insomnia in children is of two types- Limit- Setting Sleep Disorder and Sleep-Onset Association Disorder. Altitude Insomnia is an acute version of insomnia, short-lived but intense, accompanied by symptoms of headache, fatigue, and loss of appetite, all occurring when you move to high altitudes. Insomnia that results as an allergic response to certain foods is called Food Allergy Insomnia. Toxin-Induced Sleep Disorder is insomnia caused due to poisoning with toxins like heavy metals or certain organic compounds. Environmental Insomnia is sleep difficulty caused by the presence of certain environmental factors in the surrounding e.g. noise, smell, smoke etc. Stimulant-Dependent Sleep Disorder is insomnia resulting from using substances (drugs for example) that stimulate the nervous system. The person becomes addicted to their use and fails to get sleep when abstinence from the drug is practiced.

Alcohol and Insomnia

Many people believe that alcohol and insomnia are not related since alcohol actually puts a person to sleep when it is consumed in excess. Yes, it is true that initially a person who consumes large amounts of alcoholic drinks would fall asleep or pass out as it is popularly known. However, if such binges are happening often enough, the effect will be drastically reversed and the person is bound to have a very fitful sleep. People who suffer from diseases such as blood pressure, indigestion and gastric or kidney or heart problems, and the like are prone to develop insomnia if alcohol is introduced in the diet on a regular basis. It would be good to stay away from alcoholic beverages at least 3-4 hours before bedtime

Anxiety and Insomnia

Anxiety and insomnia have been found as causally related in people who remain excessively worried about some problem or coming event. While sleeplessness on account of mild anxiety for a couple of nights is normal in many cases, prolonged sleeplessness accompanied by constant worrying is clearly a case related to the causal relation between anxiety and insomnia. Anxiety is not a single disorder but a group of psychological disorders called Anxiety Disorders. These include generalized anxiety, panic and phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Different approaches treat anxiety and related insomnia differently. These include psychological counseling, psychotherapy, prescribed medication, nutritional treatment, herbal formulas, and alternative treatments like acupuncture.

Stress Related Insomnia

There are so many people all over the world who are so stressed out during the day that they find it almost impossible to sleep at night. If you are one of those people who have been losing sleep because of stress, you should try to find some solutions to your stress and insomnia problems. Studies show that stress and insomnia are so closely related that when one is present, the other is more likely to follow. For instance, if you have some emotional problems that have been bugging you for sometime, you will find it difficult to take your mind off of your problem. There are many prescription drugs that can help you with your stress and insomnia problem. There are many natural cures for treating stress related insomnia. Most cases of stress related insomnia can be cured by simply taking a break from your daily routine. Taking a walk in the park and breathing some fresh air can help you relax and calm your nerves.

Depression and Insomnia

Depression and insomnia seem to feed off on one another. A person becomes depressed and cannot stop worrying, living in fear, or having anxiety attacks. This does not end when the day does, and the night only continues the barrage of voices that carry over from the day. Insomnia then sets in, and the physical strain on the body weakens the mind and body further until depression sets in again. Relief comes when one identifies the source of the insomnia, whether it is clinical depression or something altogether different. Counseling may prove to be quite helpful in dealing with cases of depression and anxiety. It is important to know that options are available in the form or medications, herbs and supplements in order to help someone suffering from depression and insomnia.

Depression Anxiety Insomnia

One of the most common causes for sleeping disorders is depression and anxiety. In most cases, depression anxiety and insomnia would go hand in hand that people often find themselves dealing with two types of disorders at the same time. According to experts, depression anxiety and insomnia usually go together because the more stressed out and disturbed the person, the more he or she will find it difficult to sleep at night. There are so many people who experience depression anxiety and insomnia for a long period of time simply because they refuse to admit the real cause of their problems. If you really want to help yourself cope with depression anxiety and insomnia, learn to be honest with yourself.



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FaLLen_sIrEn asked:


Okay, here is it… I admit i’m a total insomniac! like, i can’t sleep until it’s pass 2am or 3… and the worst is that i was still awake at 6am! this happens everytime there aint no class or it’s summer vacation… well, eventually… it’s still summer here in the Philippines but when the summer fever is over! and it’s school time again i get rid off this insomnia thing going… i wan’t to get rid of this insomnia thing going on… what should i do?

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JDoe asked:


My sex drive is like ZERO now and i dont know why. The only thing different is increased stress, insomnia, and lack of sleep. Can this be a recipe for no sex drive?

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Aiden’sMomma asked:


This is a type of insomnia that is best described by having racing thoughts that all relate to insomnia and trying to fall asleep. Then you keep worrying about falling asleep..then I generally panic which causes adrenaline to release then all hopes of sleep vanish

Sounds silly I know, but I just can’t seem to avoid it. I would love to hear your thoughts on how to deal

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mike asked:


If I haven’t had any luck with anti-depressants what else would they try?

insomnia

Kali asked:


I have serious insomnia and only get 3 to 4 hours of sleep a night, except on the weekends, but need to start getting 8 hours a night on orders of my doc. Are there any things I can do, outside of sleeping pills, that can help me get some rest?
Thanks for the tips guys. So far I am already using meditation, proper eating habits, and exercising. This has been habitual problem since I was 7 or 8, but I am really focusing on finding a fix for it. So any tips would be really helpful.

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Dovey asked:


I do not want an addictive sleep aide. Anything that helps insomnia for a few days? It is increasing. I don’t need a doctor. I have one.

Insomnia

Natalie C asked:


Trying to lose weight like so many of us. One of my main problems is night compulsive eating. I don’t want to feel nauseous, like some appetite suppressants can do. And I don’t want it to keep me up (I’m already taking something for insomnia, and the last thing I need is to make it worse.)
Don’t give obnoxious comments that judge me for wanting help with losing weight. It’s OBVIOUSLY not helpful.

Insomnia