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Insomnia is, perhaps, the most experienced and complained of all the sleep
disorders ever documented. It is responsible for majority of the millions of
sleeping pills consumed every year, and accounts for nearly all of the excuses
people blurt out whenever someone criticizes their tired waking states during
the day. Indeed, insomnia is so common, particularly among the working lot, that
is has often been relegated to the sidelines and dismissed as simple
sleeplessness.
However, little do most of us know that insomnia entails a serious problem.
Lack of sleep has given birth to many unhealthy consequences, including
irritability, fatigue, lack of concentration and memory, a weakened immune
system, loss of appetite, blurred vision, edginess, and even learning,
behavioral and social problems. |
And that's just in the early stages of insomnia. More severe cases can sometimes
lead to heart problems, anemia, recurring coughs and colds (due to the weakened
immunity), and complications within the nervous system. What we often dismiss as
something that can be cured by just exerting a lot of effort during an activity
to make ourselves doze off peacefully can wreak a lot of havoc on our daily
functions.
How do we deal with insomnia?
You can take the drug route and ask your sleep doctor to prescribe insomnia
medications to help you sleep. However, while medications, like Valium, do work,
they can also cause side effects to your body in the longer term. It is
suggested to you first try to find ways to help better your sleep without
medical intervention.
What you can do:
- Only sleep when you feel that you need to
Don't force yourself to get some shuteye when your body is still up and at 'em.
Your body will definitely resist sleep and you will only end up tossing and
turning all night. The frustration will also only aggravate the situation and
make you lose more precious sleep time.
- Do not exercise or do strenuous activities at least four hours before going to
bed
Early evening activities will only activate your adrenaline glands and cause you
to become more hyperactive late into the night.
- Go to bed at the same time each night.
This will help train your body to respond to a certain schedule. Do this in
conjunction with the first tip.
- Try meditating or listening to soft and soothing music while you doze off.
Studies have shown that slow, soft and repeating sounds help induce sleep in
most people. That's why babies respond beautifully to lullabies.
Ultimately, in the battle against insomnia, stop thinking that you need to
sleep. The more agitated you are with finding it, the more likely you won't be
able to. Relax. Clear your mind of your worries and sleep will come. Of course,
if all else fails, you can always tell your doctor that you need 'intervention';
but that's another story.
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