Insomnia Causes

Facts about Insomnia Very often, it is easy to get mix up about insomnia and other types of sleep disorders. One major difficulty in diagnosing insomnia is its subjective nature. Some studies have shown that there is no difference between people who said they are insomniacs and people who said they were not. People who thinks they have insomnia may actually have frequent awakenings during sleep which they perceive as continuously awake. However, any individual who suffers from daytime fatigue and poor concentration may need to be treated. To know if you are actually suffer from insomnia, you can determine your condition by taking answering the following questions: How would the sleep problem be described? How long has the sleep problem been experienced? How long does it take to fall asleep? How many times a week does it occur? How restful is sleep? Does the difficulty lie in getting to sleep or in waking up early? What is the sleep environment like (Noisy? Not dark enough?)? How does insomnia affect daytime functioning? What medications are being taken (including the use of self-medications for insomnia, such as herbs, alcohol, and over-the-counter or prescription drugs)? Is the patient taking or withdrawing from stimulants, such as coffee or tobacco? How much alcohol is consumed per day? What stresses or emotional factors may be present? Has the patient experienced any significant life changes? Does the patient snore or gasp during sleep (an indication of sleep apnea)? Does the patient have leg problems (cramps, twitching, crawling feelings)? If there is a bed partner, is his or her behavior distressing or disturbing? Is the patient a shift worker? It may be suggested that you keep a sleep diary to keep track of your sleeping habits. Every day for two weeks, the patient should record all sleep-related information, including responses to questions listed above described on a daily basis. A bed partner can help by adding his or her observations of the patient's sleep behavior. Here’s what you should include in your sleep diary: Time you went to bed and woke up. Total sleep hours Quality of sleep Times that you were awake during the night and what you did (e.g. stayed in bed with eyes closed or got up, had a glass of milk and meditated) Amount of caffeine or alcohol you consumed and times of consumption Types of food and drink and times of consumption Feelings - happiness, sadness, stress, anxiety Drugs or medications taken, amounts taken and times of consumption. Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) The Multiple Sleep Latency Test uses a machine which measures the time to take to fall asleep lying in a quiet room during the day. People with healthy sleeping habits will fall asleep within 10 to 20 minutes. The test can detect changes in sleepiness associated with sleep deprivation in insomniacs. The limitations of this test is that it does not take into consideration any situations which may affect the patients mental state and affect their ability to fall asleep. Epworth Sleepiness Scale The Epworth Sleepiness Scale is a questionnaire intended to measure daytime sleepiness which helps to diagnose sleep disorders. This test is developed by Dr. Murray Johns of Epworth Hospital in Melbourne Australia.

Natural Sleep Aid Quick Tip #1 Valerian Root is the most popular and effective natural herb for treating insomnia. This herb has been used for centuries to cure insomnia without any report on negative side effects. Studies have shown that Valerian has a calming effect which help to combat stress and promote restful sleep. It is safe to be taken long term and unlike other insomnia medication, this herb does not cause addiction and dependence.

Natural Sleep Aid Quick Tip #2 Anxiety causing you sleepless nights? Anxiety is probably the most common factor which causes transient insomnia. Taking over-the-counter sleeping medication do not solve the root problem. It might even make you feel worse! Treat anxiety so that you can have a good night sleep and feel refreshed to face the next day. Do you know that simple herbs such as passionflower, lavender and lemon balm are just what you need to overcome anxiety? Get More Information on PureCalm for Anxiety & Panic Attacks.

Natural Sleep Aid Quick Tip #3 Self Hypnosis for Insomnia "It's all in the mind." You know what? Most of the time , this is true. Do you know that many people suffer from insomnia because they believe they can't go to sleep without pills? It is the mind which are playing tricks on them. Overcome insomnia with Hypnotherapy. You can easily re-educate your mind to expect a good night sleep. Self hypnosis helps you to slow down your mind and body so that you can be totally relaxed to fall asleep. Cure insomnia today with an advanced hypnosis download!