Juliet Cohen asked:


Insomnia is a sleep disorder. Sleep is a state of consciousnesses, which gives your body time to rest and build up your strength. It is characterized by an inability to sleep and/or inability to remain asleep for a reasonable period. Insomnia affects all age groups. Among older adults, insomnia affects women more often than men. The incidence increases with age. Insomnia can be a symptom of physical disorders, although for most of us it’s the result of tension, stress and anxiety — and of course the more anxious we get about our insomnia, the worse it gets. It is often caused by fear, stress, anxiety, medications, herbs, caffeine, depression, bipolar disorder or sometimes for no apparent reason. An overactive mind or physical pain may also be causes. Insomnia may be classified by how long the symptoms are present. Transient insomnia usually is due to situational changes such as travel and stressful events. It lasts for less than a week or until the stressful event is resolved. Short-term insomnia lasts for 1-3 weeks, and long-term insomnia (chronic insomnia) continues for more than 3 weeks. Chronic insomnia often results from depression or substance abuse. It is important to know that nearly everyone has problems sleeping at some time or other and it is thought that a third of people in the UK have bouts of insomnia. Newborn babies can sleep for 16 hours a day, while children of school age need an average of 10 hours. Adults usually need, on average, 7 to 9 hours sleep a night. As we get older, it’s normal to need less sleep. Most people over 70 need less than 6 hours sleep per night; and they tend to be light sleepers.

Three types of insomnia first is transient insomnia second is acute insomnia and last is chronic insomnia. It is not defined by the number of hours you sleep every night. Poor sleep quality can occur as a result of sleep apnea or major depression. Transient insomnia lasts from one night to a few weeks. Most people occasionally suffer from transient insomnia due to such causes as jet lag or short-term anxiety. Acute insomnia is the inability to consistently sleep well for a period of between three weeks to six months. Chronic insomnia is regarded as the most serious; persists almost nightly for at least a month. Chronic insomnia can lead to mental health problems such as depression, or misuse of alcohol or other medicines in order to gain sleep. Sleep apnea is a condition that occurs when a sleeping person’s breathing is interrupted, thus interrupting the normal sleep cycle. With the obstructive form of the condition, some part of the sleeper’s respiratory tract loses muscle tone and partially collapses. People with obstructive sleep apnea often do not remember any of this, but they complain of excessive sleepiness during the day. Central sleep apnea interrupts the normal breathing stimulus of the central nervous system, and the individual must actually wake up to resume breathing. Sometimes perimenopausal (the time leading up to menopause) women have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep; hot flashes and night sweats often can disturb sleep. Pregnancy also can affect how well a woman sleeps.

Treatment of insomnia should be individualized based on the nature and severity of symptoms. Most cases of insomnia inability to sleep or inability to sleep well at night. Lormetazepam, a short-acting benzodiazepine widely used for the treatment of insomnia. Rozerem is the very first insomnia treatment medication on the market that acts as a melatonin receptor agonist. Rozerem is just one of the many insomnia medications available on the market today. It is important that you discuss with your health care provider if prescription medications are right to treat your insomnia. Benzodiazepines drugs are relatives of diazepam (Valium) marketed as sleeping aids. Other drugs such as ethchlorvynol (Placidyl) are likely to produce neurologic side effects when taken. Barbiturates were formerly the standard sleeping pills, sold under such names as Seconal and Nembutal. Nonpharmacologic treatments for insomnia are considered effective if they decrease sleep onset latency or increase total sleep time by 30 minutes. Most treatment studies use patient-reported sleep diaries to measure outcome. Criteria used include total sleep time, sleep-onset latency, and number of nocturnal awakenings. A meta-analysis of 48 individual studies of behavioral therapy found stimulus control therapy to be effective and to be superior to progressive relaxation, imagery training, and paradoxical intention. Develop a regular sleeping schedule. Avoid daytime naps and stimulating activities just before bedtime. Avoid alcohol- it is a leading cause of poor sleep. Drink a cup of warm milk.

Alan B. Densky, CH asked:


Are you going to bed near the time that everyone else is waking up? It may be cold comfort to know that you are among the 20 million Americans who suffer from insomnia. If dark circles, a groggy head and hours spent lying awake have become standard for you, a hypnosis insomnia program could bring the help you desire.

No doubt you believe you’ve tried everything to fall asleep, including a nightcap, over-the-counter-sleep aids or even highly addictive prescription sleeping pills. All lead to the same outcome: You build up a tolerance, your “sleep” is not restful and the next morning, you felt groggy. Hypnotherapy for insomnia can bring safe, effective sleep devoid of side effects.

Many people incorrectly think that hypnosis is sleep. But effective hypnosis and NLP insomnia programs will only bring results if you are awake while in a deeply relaxed state. In the hypnotic state, your unconscious is more accepting and open to suggestions. In the most effective programs, post-hypnotic suggestions are given to your unconscious to abolish tension and set up a positive expectation of restful sleep. NLP for insomnia is commonly effective after the initial session because we are inclined to get what we expect, so you will sleep soundly all through the night.

After thoroughly relaxing, the next step in self-hypnosis insomnia therapy is discovering what compels you to suffer from a sleep disturbance. Another crucial part of a hypnosis insomnia course requires implementing small changes to your evening ritual that will have the most significant effect on your ability to quickly fall asleep for sound and restful slumber all night long.

At the heart of a successful hypnotherapy insomnia program lies Neuro-Linguistic Programming, or NLP. Powerful NLP techniques can be used to “flip” things around in the unconscious so that experiences and thoughts that previously caused stressful feelings will actually bring about relaxation instead.

Diminishing stress is paramount for a hypnotherapy insomnia treatment to work, and hypnotherapy visualizations can train the unconscious to immediately turn off distressing thoughts and feelings that create stress and anxiety. These tranquil feelings stay with you through the day so that when it is time for bed, you can fall asleep quickly and rest throughout the entire night without interruption.

In addition to using effective NLP techniques in hypnotherapy insomnia programs, Ericksonian Hypnotic Metaphors are also worthwhile. Basically, a qualified hypnotherapist creates a metaphor, or a parable, that directs your unconscious to subdue your thoughts-especially in the evening-to get rid of any anxiety or fear about staying awake.

To permanently beat insomnia, discovering how to relax with self-hypnosis is essential, but it is not always practical to listen to a CD or watch a DVD. Learning how to give yourself post-hypnotic suggestions anytime, anywhere to create deep relaxation can be accomplished simply. That’s right-you can successfully use self-hypnosis insomnia suggestions any time you need them.

Hypnotherapy insomnia programs can’t hurt you in any way. A hypnotherapist can’t make you say or do anything that you do not want to. You remain completely in control, and there is no “hypnotized feeling” that you have to overcome. In fact, the worst that might possibly happen is that you may fall asleep for 30 minutes or so. That’s the goal of hypnosis for insomnia in the first place!

Hypnotherapy suggestions for insomnia can be directives to the unconscious to draw on pleasant memories and fantasies to create pleasant dreams and relaxation. You will feel tranquil at bedtime and have a positive expectation of sound and restful sleep. And that positive expectation will help you fall asleep promptly, and the dreams will make you sleep soundly and restfully all night long.

Moreover, hypnotherapy programs are highly effective; it has been reported that most people are hypnotizable to a greater or lesser extent. However, people who are in an active state of psychosis or who have less than a 70 IQ generally are not hypnotizable. Most senile people are also hard or impossible to hypnotize. Like any move to improve the quality of your life, your motivation is essential for success.

Each person responds differently to each type of hypnosis, so ensure your hypnotherapy insomnia program offers several different methods, like NLP and Ericksonian Metaphors, to bring you the results that you are seeking. Most hypnotherapy insomnia program participants notice their sleep issues are alleviated by hypnosis, and insomnia simply fades away like a bad dream.

Ken Glauser asked:


Do you wake up in the morning feeling refreshed and full of energy? No? Well that could be an indication of insomnia or a sleep disorder. Insomnia comes in a few forms. Some insomniacs go to bed but can’t fall asleep. Others sleep for a brief time and then wake up and have a hard time going back to sleep, while still others may never reach REM (Rapid Eye Movement) essential to good sleep patterns.

Primary Insomnia

Primary insomnia is a condition that isn’t related to anything in the persons life. It doesn’t occur because of stress, worries, drug usage or any number of other sleep robbing conditions. It comes and goes in most cases. The average period of poor sleep is about 3 months. There is of course extreme cases that last much longer.

Secondary Insomnia

Secondary insomnia is generally brought about by another condition, be it stress, illness or chemical dependence. The actual chemicals themselves can sometimes have insomnia as one of the side effects. Any disorders can trigger secondary insomnia. Stress and worries may be so intense that they affect your sleep and even your subconscious. This may lead to being prone to insomnia. Pain, depression, and anxiety are frequent triggers to insomnia. Insomnia from the drugs taken for those conditions can also lead to insomnia.

Effects of Insomnia

If you are like the large majority of people, (insomnia is a common health problem), then you know how the lack of sleep can affect you. In most studies conducted, lack of sleep leads to lower concentration levels and irritability. Tired is not the way to operate effectively. A rested person has recharged their minds and bodies. A person needs to recharge to be effective, both physically and mentally.

Cure for Insomnia

With secondary insomnia, frequently if the person learns to deal with the underlying cause, then the insomnia disappears. To do that though, the person needs to know the root problem of the sleepless nights. Sometimes the subconscious mind has to be forced to deal with the underlying issue before it will release the person to the point where they can relax and sleep. Insomnia is a common problem with surviving family. Sometimes the person should seek health professionals to discover the cure for their insomnia. Especially if it goes on for long periods of time.

Where to go for Information

Facts about insomnia are numerous on the internet. Googling the word “insomnia” shows over 5.7 million occurrences. There are also numerous research papers or books on the subject. They discuss detailed accounts of the suffering that comes with sleep disorders. They also talk about treatments for the insomniac. If you are using the internet, make sure that it is a reputable site that you are using. Most are very good but a small percentage of them are of no use whatsoever to the reader. They are there solely to sell other products with advertising space on the website. If in doubt, talk to a doctor about any remedies you are considering.

Ryan Kaufman asked:


Insomnia or the inability to sleep is a common disorder that is suffered by millions of people worldwide. It may be comforting for insomniacs to learn that this is not considered a disease but a condition that can easily be overcome through systematic and effective ways designed to combat this disorder. There are many facts about insomnia that has been published on various publications, whether online or in the physical world.

Facts about Insomnia Established

Insomnia is a condition where the sufferers find it difficult to doze off into dreamland. When insomnia is caused by certain short term event, the effects might likely go away after the emotional trauma which causes it has dissipated away. However when the condition of insomnia occurs over a prolonged period of time, you need to get moving and get your facts about insomnia straight so that you will know what you are up against!

Causes of Insomnia

It is perhaps an established fact about insomnia that prolonged periods of exposure to lack of sleep can cause major depression, impairment in the ability to perform daily tasks and changes in eating patterns as well.

In order to begin the search for the right treatment, you need to understand some basic facts about insomnia. Insomnia can be defined as the inability to fall asleep, and the difficulty of remaining asleep once you really do manage to fall asleep. This is an annoying and disturbing situation to be in because when sleep patterns are disrupted, a tremendous sense of fatigue follows the day after.

Studies conducted revealed some startling facts about insomnia that you need to know about. Insomnia can be a form of disorder in itself without any causal factors or it can be the direct consequence of another traumatic event. The former is known as primary insomnia and the second condition is referred to as secondary insomnia.

Facts about Insomnia: A Brief Summary

To effectively win the battle against insomnia, you need to get the facts about insomnia right, and then move on to determine the cause if insomnia itself. If you are suffering from secondary insomnia, the best way to fix this issue is by taking the necessary steps to remove the causal factors that are creating those problems or you, or aggravating it. If the insomnia is a primary form, then the issue could be a serious illness or a serious emotional problem that needs attention from a medical professional.

peterhutch asked:


 

Insomnia is a symptom of a sleeping disorder characterized by persistent difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep despite the opportunity. It is typically followed by functional impairment while awake. Insomniacs have been known to complain about being unable to close their eyes or “rest their mind” for more than a few minutes at a time. Both organic and non-organic insomnia constitute a sleep disorder.

Insomnia Causes

The most common psychological problems include anxiety, stress, and depression. In fact, insomnia may be an indicator of depression. Many people will have insomnia during the acute phases of a mental illness.

Many people have insomnia. People who have insomnia may not be able to fall asleep. They may wake up during the night and not be able to fall back asleep, or they may wake up too early in the morning.

Insomnia contributes to excessive daytime tiredness, which in turn may be responsible for accidents, recurrent infections, poor concentration, irritability, work and relationship problems and a general inability to cope.

Anxiety, a condition in which individuals feel increased tension, apprehension, and feelings of helplessness, fear, worry, and uncertainty. This may be due to the effects that other people at work have on us, financial worries, concerns over relationships outside work or numerous other causes.

Symptoms

Insomnia symptoms may include:

Difficulty falling asleep at night

Waking up during the night

Waking up too early

Daytime fatigue or sleepiness

Daytime irritability

It’s common for older adults to sleep less deeply and for less time than they did earlier in life, and to experience fragmented sleep. However, these normal changes in the sleep patterns of older adults do not mean that they should expect inadequate rest and to awaken feeling unrefreshed.8 Routine poor-quality sleep due to health problems, medication use, and major life changes can lead to chronic sleep problems.

Diagnosis of Insomnia

Surprisingly, a sleep study is not routinely recommended for those complaining of insomnia. The reason is that when a sleep study is performed in someone suffering from insomnia, it does not generally give any new information; it simply confirms that the patient is having trouble sleeping. The best way to find the cause for insomnia is by careful history taking. Assessment of recent onset insomnia should focus on acute personal and medical problems.

Treatment

The treatment of insomnia depends on its cause and severity. If insomnia results from another disorder, treatment of that disorder may improve sleep. For most people who have insomnia, some simple changes in lifestyle, such as following a regular sleep schedule and avoiding caffeine after lunch time, can improve sleep.

In addition to daytime tiredness or fatigue, chronic insomnia can be associated with a complaint of compromised intellectual function, mood disturbance, or an increase in physical complaints (e.g., headaches and gastrointestinal problems). Beyond these outcomes, there is now considerable evidence that individuals with chronic insomnia have an increased risk of psychiatric illness (especially major depressive disorder) and substance abuse and there is mounting evidence that insomnia is associated with absenteeism from work, higher health care costs, and reduced quality of life.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Cognitive behavior therapy helps patients change thoughts and behaviors that interfere with sleep. Treatment methods are often used in combination for increased effect.

 

You may find that if you are unable to fall asleep or wake up in the night, you spend a lot of time in bed trying unsuccessfully to sleep. If so, you may benefit from a sleep restriction program that initially allows only a few hours of sleep during the night. Gradually this time is increased until a normal sleep period is achieved.

 

Antihistamines

 

Diphenhydramine (for example, Sominex, Nytol) and doxylamine (for example, Unisom) are antihistamines that are currently marketed as OTC sleep aids. Diphenhydramine is the only agent that is considered to be safe and effective by the Food and Drug Administration. The safety and effectiveness of doxylamine has not been evaluated adequately for FDA approval.

Andrew P Jones asked:


What is Insomnia? The Insomnia sleep disorder, also known as Wakefulness or Dysomnia, is an inability to sleep, or disturbed sleep preventing you from getting a proper night’s rest.

The main effect of insomnia is that you may feel constantly tired and irritable, with poor concentration and coordination.

There are two main types of Insomnia:

Primary Insomnia has no underlying medical cause for the difficulty in sleeping.

Secondary Insomnia has an underlying medical cause triggering disturbed sleep: any condition causing pain, discomfort, or directly causing mental disturbance or anxiety, or specific conditions such as Sleep Apnea or Seasonal Affective Disorder. If you suspect an underlying medical or mental condition seek medical advice.

Behavioral therapy to encourage sleep can be used in both cases, though for Secondary Insomnia you should liaise with your doctor if receiving treatment for an underlying cause.

A period of insomnia can vary from transient (a few nights) to short term (up to 3 weeks) to chronic, long term insomnia (over 3 weeks)

Transient or Short Term Insomnia can be caused by traumatic events such as acute illness, injury or surgery, bereavement, job loss or less serious events such as trouble at work, an exam, extreme weather change, traveling (including jet lag)

Statistics about Insomnia causes: 50% Psychological, 40% Behavioral: sleep environment (30%) stimulants or medication (10%), 10% Physical (pain, illness etc.)

30-40% of people report insomnia each year; 10-15% of people reporting insomnia say they have chronic insomnia.

The amount of sleep needed by people varies: Babies need about 17 hours sleep a day, a child nine to ten hours per night, and an adult seven to eight hours each night, though that typically decreases as you get older.

Chronic Child Insomnia can have even more serious effects than with adults. Getting enough sleep is much more important for young children than for fully grown adults, as a childhood growth demands a healthy sleep cycle.

Don’t send a child to bed as a punishment as this may lead to insomnia due to a fear of being sent to bed. Consider using a bedroom only for sleep, not play.

Never give a child sleeping medicine without proper medical consultation. Sleeping pills may seem to provide instant, even amazing insomnia relief compared to behavioral therapies, but their results are short term and they often have other side effects.

Adults do not all need eight hours every night! Some people manage on as little as four hours sleep a night. If you don’t need much sleep then get up early – spending too long in bed can help trigger insomnia.

People can also mistake the amount of sleep they are actually getting, because they tend to remember waking up as a longer period than it actually was.

After failing to sleep for a few nights, you may become anxious that you won’t sleep causing Fear or Anxiety Insomnia. A major step towards anxiety insomnia treatment can be to accept that you can cope with its effects, thus reducing the fear of not sleeping. You would then build upon this with behavioral therapy.

Three main areas where you can encourage sleep are:

Sleep Environment – a comfortable bed, a bedroom that is quiet, dark and the right temperature

Sleep Discipline – use your bed for sleeping (and sex) only, watch TV etc. elsewhere

Sleep Conditioning – creating a routine, going to bed and getting up at the same time

The results of behavioral therapy may take effect slowly but are long term – the creation of good habits which make you less prone to insomnia.

Sleep can be disrupted even by normal foods and behaviors: e.g. don’t consume coffee after 1pm – try decaffeinated coffee instead. Avoid consuming alcohol within two hours of going to bed, although it may make you drowsy initially it can inhibit sleep when you wake up in the middle of the night.

A warm drink, dairy, soy products, eggs, rice and grains aid relaxation; foods such as bread or crackers which are high in carbohydrate can reduce anxiety, thus aiding sleep. Do not eat sugary or spicy food or drink near bedtime.

Stress or a mind too active or anxious will hinder the relaxation necessary before sleep comes.

Regular physical exercise helps control stress physically and psychologically by breaking up the day after work to distance you from work problems. Early evening is the best time for exercise if you want to use it to help get to sleep.

A warm bath can help relaxation – but don’t stay there too long or have the water too hot.

Try meditation or other relaxation techniques. Continuous practice will help you do them more effectively, so practice during the day to reduce stress, then even when you are tired it’ll work better. If you are lying awake anyway, why not just do the relaxation exercises for fun!

Mark Smith asked:


For light sleepers, insomnia can be an annoying problem. The barking dog outside. The ticking of the alarm clock. Even the sound of your partner shifting in the bed can disturb your Zs.

If you’re tired of awakening at every little sound, maybe it’s time you tried some natural sleep techniques coupled with a non-addictive sleep aid such as Rozerem. Although being a light sleeper is annoying, there’s no reason you can’t ease your insomnia with a few sleep-enhancing tricks.

Insomnia Overview

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder in which the patient either has trouble falling asleep or cannot remain asleep for an extended period of time. Although most people have experienced a sleepless night or two during their lifetime, often it’s connected to a specific stress-related event such as the loss of a loved one or a job related anxiety. Doctors refer to patients in this category as temporary insomniacs. The insomnia symptoms will usually disappear when the underlying stress is resolved.

Patients with chronic insomnia are those who have battled sleeplessness for a period of six months or longer. In these insomniacs, doctors may have a difficult time pinpointing the exact cause of the condition.

Left untreated, chronic insomnia can lead to other serious problems such as depression. Due to fatigue, people with chronic insomnia may also experience a total lack of motivation or enthusiasm. As the body becomes worn down, insomnia sufferers have trouble concentrating. Performing daily routine tasks can be difficult. They may even undergo behavior changes.

Although sleep aids can help patients achieve better rest, chronic insomniacs can become addicted to certain prescription sleep aids. While they may be sleeping longer hours than before, their bodies can experience a number of unpleasant side effects related to the long-term use of sleep aids.

Today a greater number of people suffer from insomnia than ever before. Did you know that before the invention of electricity, the average American slept around nine hours a night? Only a small fraction of the current population acquires this much sleep on a regular basis. In fact, our current society might view individuals who sleep nine hours as lazy or unproductive.

How Your Work Schedule Can Aggravate Insomnia

In order to function properly, our bodies must be in tune with their internal clock or circadian rhythm. Most folks acknowledge they feel more productive after a restful night’s sleep. But for patients with insomnia, getting enough sleep and feeling refreshed is a rare occurrence.

In today’s hectic workplace, an increasing number of employees are being forced to toil during hours that conflict with the body’s natural sleep schedule. Insomnia sufferers who work afternoon or night shifts have an additional burden to overcome. These light sleepers must deal with sunlight disturbances as well as noise issues. For them, falling asleep and staying asleep may seem next to impossible.

Fortunately, there are a number of effective natural techniques that can help insomnia patients relieve their condition. You may wish to try these natural methods first before seeking relief from prescription sleep aids like Rozerem. These helpful methods can even lessen your long-term dependence on sleep aids.

Natural Methods to Help Light Sleepers Combat Insomnia

Before attempting to treat insomnia with natural sleep aids or methods, you may wish to consult with your physician first. Neurologists who specialize in sleep disorders are highly qualified to assist you in determining the cause of your insomnia. Patients who can first identify the reasons for their insomnia are more likely to have a successful outcome.

Helpful Tips for Light Sleepers



Keep a sleep diary that includes the following:



 



total hours slept each night,

number of awakenings during the night,

approximate amount of time needed to fall asleep.



 

Over time you can identify any specific patterns or events that may be contributing to your insomnia.



Try to go to bed around the same time each night. This will help your body regulate its sleep schedule. If you simply cannot fall asleep, you may have to reduce your sleep time until your body becomes fatigued and sleep is inevitable.



Earplugs are an inexpensive way for light sleepers, especially travelers, to combat insomnia. If you’re fed up sleeping with your head tucked under the pillow, this tip may be just the cure you need.



Although noise is the enemy, many light sleepers can tolerate a consistent noise such as a fan, air conditioner, etc. During the summertime, this is the perfect way for insomniacs to drown out disturbances such as automobiles, televisions, or loud neighbors.



Soothing classical background music is a great way to eliminate other noises while relaxing your mind and body. Try listening to some of your favorite music in order to beat insomnia.



Watch your diet. If you’re an avid coffee drinker, set a specific cutoff time for your last cup of java. Caffeine aggravates insomnia and can increase your anxiety level.



Avoid eating a heavy meal before bedtime. Digesting all that food is hard work that can keep your system active and awake for hours.



 

Natural Herbs and Supplements Can Lessen Insomnia

Natural herbs are a great way to fight insomnia. Many of these natural sleep aids are also inexpensive to purchase. Like all drugs, you should consult with your doctor or a qualified herbalist before attempting treatment.

Most natural herbs can safely be used to treat insomnia. However, ask your doctor first if you are taking any medications or plan on using prescription sleep aids along with natural herbs.



A herb called valerian has proven especially effective in helping insomnia patients. This natural sleep aid allows patients to fall asleep quicker and helps them achieve a sounder sleep state necessary for dreams and restful sleep to occur.



Corydalis is a herb that both relaxes insomnia sufferers and lessens physical pain due to other illnesses that may be the root cause of insomnia.



Chamomile is a well known herb that can be consumed in the form of tea or as an extract. In addition to treating insomnia, chamomile helps reduce stress and depression.



Light sleepers may want to try lemon balm to lessen the effects of insomnia. This natural herb is popular for treating mild insomnia cases since it effectively reduces stress and anxiety levels.



 

Rozerem, a Non-Addictive Sleep Aid for Light Sleepers and Insomniacs

If you’ve suffered from insomnia for an extended period of time, you may be familiar with a new prescription sleep aid called Rozerem. Rozerem is unique from other sleep drugs as it does not cause dependence or harmful side effects.

Rozerem can be taken safely by most insomnia patients for an extended time. However, it is not necessary to take Rozerem on a daily basis. Simply take the Rozerem tablets on the days you have trouble sleeping.

Although Rozerem does not cause excess grogginess, insomnia sufferers should refrain from potentially harmful activities like alcohol consumption while using this sleep aid.

In order to learn more about Rozerem and decide if it’s the right sleep aid to treat your insomnia, visit our Rozerem facts page for more details.

Cindy Heller asked:


With increased awareness in the media and health food circles, alternative approaches to healing are growing, which includes alternative insomnia medicine. One such therapy for insomnia is the use of valerian root. Valerian root is an herb which has been used extensively throughout the ages as a calming and relaxing herb. It is often referred to as “nature’s Valium” for its sedative qualities. Another alternative insomnia medicine is melatonin. Melatonin also helps to induce sleep.

Homeopathic Remedies for Insomnia

The world of homeopathic treatment offers many alternative solutions for a full gamut of diseases, ailments, and sicknesses, including insomnia. Aconitum apellus is a remedy specified for someone who has panic attacks associated with insomnia. This homeopathic remedy for insomnia helps to calm and soothe the fears that occur shortly before falling asleep. Ignatia is another homeopathic remedy which is supposed to help a person struggling with insomnia because of an emotional struggle such as grieving the loss of a loved one. Calcarea Phosphorica lessens the joint pains in adults and growing pains in children. Various supplements of calcium and magnesium also help to calm the nervous system and are recommended to take at bedtime to help sleep to come.

Herbal Treatment for Insomnia – It Can Be Treated Naturally

There are plenty of the over-the-counter medicines that can successfully treat this disease. Nonetheless, a good majority of people still prefer to go for the herbal treatment for insomnia because they feel it has fewer side effects. Some of the common (read traditional) herbal treatments for insomnia will include remedies with plants such as passion flower, valerian root, Californian poppy seeds, dog wood, and so on.

Home Remedies for Insomnia

Self help is the best help. You could be your own doctor whereby you may get relief much faster.

Home Insomnia Cure No. 1 – When you find that you cannot sleep, the first step should be to try and relax. You will never be able to do this on the bed, because your inability to fall asleep will irritate you further and aggravate your condition. Hence, if you stayed more than 30 minutes in bed and you find that sleep evades you, get up from the bed and do something that relaxes you. Have a hot cup of chamomile tea, read a favorite bestseller, have a hot mug of milk and generally try to relax. You will find that in no time, you will feel sleepy.

Home Insomnia Cures No. 2 – Reading has always been a great relaxing technique. However, not all type of reading will be helpful to you. Avoid any such topics that would excite you further, such as ghost stories, sexual fantasy stories, or puzzles. The best would be to read something that is pleasant yet simple – such as a magazine, newspaper, comic books, or a favorite bestseller.

Home Insomnia Cures No 3 – immerse yourself in hot water and a long drawn bath. You could use aromatic oils before or after the bath, and or aromatic candles to create a relaxing and pleasing atmosphere all around you.

Home insomnia cures No 4 – listening to music might help as well. This could work best while or after taking the hot water bath, though it is okay when used singly also. As is the case of the books, you should choose music that is soothing and soft so it can relax you and induce sleep.

Behavioral Therapy

Self-hypnosis and auto-suggestion methods work pretty well. You will need to master the art of self-hypnosis from a professional. You will also find certain specific exercises (such as yoga) that promote sleep in the long run – if you prefer to have only natural means to treat this disease. This type of treatment is also called behavioral therapy and it is normally applied singly or in combination with other types of treatments, depending on the response of the person to the medicines, sleep therapies and so on.

Often all it needs to cure insomnia is a simple change of life-style habits and a few stringent and serious measures which influence sleep:

1. Avoid any caffeine in any form at least four hours before sleep; preferably you should eliminate it totally from your diet.

2. Avoid alcohol intake of any kind.

3. Avoid having your meals too late at night (allow at least four hours between the last meal and your bed time).

Natural Sleeping Remedies

One of the most common insomnia solutions is drinking milk before you go to bed. Drinking a warm glass of milk has been proven to be effective insomnia solution throughout the years. Another very practical insomnia solution is exercise. Simple physical exercises performed a few hours before going to sleep can be a good insomnia solution. Yoga exercise is very calming that even if you had a very busy day, all your stress will be gone when you do yoga exercises. Sleeping at regular hours can cure insomnia.

Nancy Ho asked:


Insomnia

Individuals will normally vary in their need for and the satisfaction they derive from sleep. Insomnia may cause problems during the day, such as tiredness, a lack of energy, difficulty in concentration and irritability.

Insomnia can be classified as transient (short term), where a person has not been able to get any sleep from the last few days or weeks, intermittent (on and off) or acute.

Transient insomnia lasts anywhere from a single night to a few weeks. If episodes of transient insomnia occur from time to time, insomnia is said to be intermittent.

A person with acute insomnia will either not be able to sleep properly, or will have difficulty sleeping for about 3 weeks to six months. Insomnia is considered to be chronic if it occurs on most nights and lasts for a month or more.

The Causes of Insomnia

Individuals with certain physiological and psychological conditions are more likely to be affected by insomnia. The following are some examples:

Advanced age (insomnia occurs more frequently in those age 60) Female gender A history of depression or having a negative mindset Other conditions (such as stress, anxiety, a medical problem, or the use of certain medications) including the above conditions, insomnia is likely to happen on the individual.

There are many causes of insomnia. Transient and acute/intermittent insomnia usually occur in people who are temporarily experiencing one or more of the following:

Reaction to Stress Environmental noise Extreme temperatures, too old or too warm Change in the surrounding environment i.e bedrooms Sleep/wake schedule problems such as those due to jet lag The side effects of medication Treating Insomnia

Many people with insomnia believe that they need medication to treat it. However, there is no guarantee that these will have long-lasting effects, and even then medication may have undesirable side-effects such as addiction to sleeping pills. There are alternative treatments to medication.

In general, the available treatments for chronic or acute insomnia may consist of:

First, diagnosing and treating the underlying medical or psychological problems Identifying behaviors that may worsen insomnia and stopping (or reducing) them Possibly using sleeping pills, although the long-term use of sleeping pills for chronic insomnia does not solve the problem and there may be health-damaging side effects, such as addiction Trying behavioral techniques to improve sleep, such as relaxation therapy, sleep restriction therapy, reconditioning or hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy is by far the most effective tool as it targets the hidden roots of the problems that cause insomnia, especially acute and chronic insomnia.

Relaxation Therapy

There are specific and effective techniques that can reduce or eliminate anxiety and body tension. As a result, the person’s mind is able to stop “racing,” the muscles can relax, and restful sleep can occur. It usually takes much practice to learn these techniques and to achieve effective relaxation.

Sleep Restriction

Some people suffering from insomnia spend too much time in bed unsuccessfully trying to sleep. They may benefit from a sleep restriction program that at first allows only a few hours of sleep during the night. Gradually the time is increased until a more normal night’s sleep is achieved.

Reconditioning

Another treatment that may help some people with insomnia is to recondition them to associate the bed and bedtime with sleep. For most people, this means not using their beds for any activities other than sleep and ***.

As part of the reconditioning process, the person is usually advised to go to bed only when sleepy. If unable to fall asleep, the person is told to get up, stay up until sleepy, and then return to bed.

Throughout this process, the person should avoid naps and wake up and go to bed at the same time each day. Eventually the person’s body will be conditioned to associate the bed and bedtime with sleep.

Hypnotherapy as a treatment for Insomnia

Hypnotherapy can be a rapid technique to break the debilitating habit of sleep deprivation. Using hypnotherapy (usually in two or three sessions) can make getting to sleep easier, getting back to sleep after waking up easy, giving a better quality of life.

In the hypnosis session, we use several techniques, besides relaxing you deeply, which is exactly what you need for your body and mind to ‘tip over’ into sleep. We are also able to reprogram the mind to get normal natural sleep. In some of the chronic cases, we will get to the source of the insomnia and thus freeing you from sleeplessness.

Additionally, hypnosis is excellent for stopping the ‘chattering mind’ that plagues so many insomniacs.

We also teach our clients to use Self-Hypnosis. The following is a quick review of what we do:

How to use Self-Hypnosis to get to sleep Hypnotizing yourself Guided Self-Hypnosis for Insomnia

Here’s a short script for a guided self-hypnosis. Find yourself a quiet and comfortable place where you won’t be disturbed. Make sure that you take of all your accessories, switch off your handphone before you begin so that you won’t be disturbed.

Firstly make sure that your body is relaxed. Relaxation occurs when your body is free from tension in the muscles. A good technique to accomplish this is to want to relax all the muscles in the different areas of your body.

Starting with the area of the feet up through the knees, next relax your thighs then abdomen, back, shoulders arms and hands, all the way to your fingertips, move to your chest, throat, ****** muscle, mouth and jaw areas. All this time feel a wave of calm relaxation flowing through those body parts.

Continue by taking gradual deep breaths through your nose, and then slowly exhale out through your mouth (The brain and body require more oxygen to enter hypnosis). Next, roll your eyes up (eyelids closed, looking up into the forehead). This causes the eyelids to “flutter”, replicating the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) of sleep.

Now concentrate on your breathing and, only on the exhale, mentally repeat “Relax, calm, peaceful, restful, sleep” or “Beautiful, deep, restful, sleep”. You will find yourself drifting off to sleep.

By now, indeed, you have hypnotized yourself, and that state of mind will draw you into unconscious sleep. During a one-on-one session with a Hypnotherapist you will be coached how to correctly do all this, and the success rate is 95%. For more information:

Patricia Hammond asked:


Many herbs can be effectively and inexpensively used to ease the nerves and promote relaxation and sleep. Some people may not know though that the use of some herbs can result in side effects or that some herbs are less effective and safe than others. Here are some useful tips to ensure that you are using a safe insomnia herbal remedy.

Conduct Your Own Research

The internet, health practitioners and local support groups are perfect resources for your search for a safe insomnia herbal remedy. Take note of popular herbs used for insomnia herbal remedy products and research for the answer to specific questions like:

· How exactly can this insomnia herbal remedy promote sleep and relaxation?

· What are it effects on vital body functions?

· Are there any negative side effects and are any of the side effects long term and potentially life threatening?

· Are there people using the herb who have experienced positive results?

· What do studies and experts say about this popular insomnia herbal remedy?

· Are there warnings in the internet against this insomnia herbal remedy? Have there been controversial cases linked to the herb?

· Does this herb have the least negative side effects?

Look for a Reputable Brand

Aside from getting yourself personally informed, you should also consider buying an insomnia herbal remedy from a reputable company who has been in the business for some time. A reputable insomnia herbal remedy brand will be able to provide you with valuable information about the remedy. They will not just tell you that their product can provide relief from insomnia. They will also tell you exactly how their product can promote positive results. You will easily find ingredient descriptions and ingredient effects in a good product site. You can simply cross check the information provided by looking for unbiased medical journals or studies in the internet. A reputable manufacturer or distributor will also provide you free access to additional information about insomnia and other sleep disorders to help you understand your condition better.

Don’t Experiment with Herbs

Some sources may provide you with home remedies for insomnia. Some of these remedies may actually be safe to use and may even work. Your home remedy herbal instructions however should contain specific amount instructions. Not all herbs can be safely used in any experimental amount. Even herbs taken as instructed may still cause side effects. Hops, chamomile and lavender for example are herbs for insomnia that can cause allergic reactions in some individuals.

Use Your Common Sense

Because herbs have not been extensively studied, common sense would tell us not to use herbs under specific conditions unless cleared by a physician for safe use. Pregnant women, breastfeeding women, young children, people taking strong medications, people with allergies and people with serious ailments should refrain from taking any insomnia herbal remedy. An insomnia herbal remedy’s properties could have negative side effects in people with special conditions.

Ask Your Doctor’s Opinion

If you are already using a remedy or have switched from one remedy to another and you are still not experiencing any positive effects or have a worse condition, then you should immediately see your doctor. You could already be suffering from chronic insomnia that could lead to a more serious condition. You could also be suffering from a serious underlying condition that could be causing your insomnia.