What is insomnia?
Insomnia is a sleep disorder. Three types of insomnia can be distinguished: one is hard to sleep, they wake up frequently during the night or you will wake up early. There can also be multiple forms simultaneously.
If insomnia lasts longer than a few nights, the condition can become chronic and can sleep deprivation have a very adverse impact on the welfare. Insomnia disrupts the natural sleep rhythm, which is difficult to recover. Some people who suffer from insomnia, sleep inadvertently worsen the situation by the day or early evening short, so at night the disease is worse. Some try despite the lack of sleep to continue to function, which can cause serious physical and psychological problems. It is possible that someone who is afraid to suffer from insomnia, in reality only has less need for sleep. It is normal to be going lighter sleep with age and in shorter periods. Some elderly people are tossing and turning in bed, because their body no longer needs sleep, whereas they were accustomed to a certain amount of time sleeping.
Insomnia is relatively common due to external causes such as noise, light pollution or as a side effect of certain medications, but can also be caused by stress, anxiety, physical or mental illness, food allergy (ies), poor sleep discipline or it can be the result of brain injury. It is a major symptom of mania in people with bipolar disorder, and can also be a sign of increased thyroid activity, depression and other stimulants physiological stimuli. There may also be genetic predisposition to include fatal familial insomnia.
Insomnia treatment
Many people rely on sleeping tablets and other sedatives to relax. There are many benzodiazepines such as Temazepam prescribed for sleep problems. These are resources that anxiolytic (anxiety reducing) and sedative (sedative and soporific) work. These drugs work quickly addictive and the effect after a few weeks because there are already less tolerance arose.
There are also traditional remedies for insomnia. A cup of warm milk (with anise) before you go to bed, is one of them. Warm milk contains tryptophan (one of the twenty naturally occurring amino acids), which is involved in the production of serotonin, which in turn is part of the hormone melatonin. This hormone regulates the sleep-wake rhythm.
The remedies are listed below (mostly) done any scientific studies and / or found any evidence, but which some believe to benefit:
- Take a warm bath or shower in the evening;
- Half an hour energetic workout in the afternoon (this reduces stress and provides a healthy tiredness);
- Taking a walk or gardening;
- A sauna or massage;
- Use of herbal supplements such as valerian, chamomile, lavender, hops and Passiflora incarnata;
- Aromatherapy: relaxing would work, especially with lavender and other essential oils;
- A large and extensive lunch, with subsequent light evening meal (at the latest 3 hours before bedtime);
- Avoiding stimulating activities such as watching TV and using the computer in the evenings;
- The alternating breathing through each nostril (alternating with the fingers close push) when already lying on the bed;
- A ritual before bedtime, for example, more and more lights off as it gets later, already attract a pajamas or sleepwear, brushing teeth, etc. That way, someone is preparing slowly getting used to at bedtime and body and mind to it.
- A dark, not too warm bedroom is also very important. A night light or street that enters the room can disrupt sleep. Moreover attracts a night light when the summer the window is open, insects;
- The bedroom is in principle only for sleep. Therefore, all other activities should perhaps find except sex somewhere else instead. If not, the room can recall these activities, which one can not relax.
- Smoking cannabis. The indica can have a calming effect and promote the approaches to sleep.
Tips for dealing with insomnia
People with insomnia problems can best avoided caffeine. Caffeine often plays an important role in insomnia. Caffeine is among others found in coffee, tea, mate, guarana, and cola nut (including coke). In cocoa is theobromine, a stimulant. Such substances are often found in "energy drinks" (such as Red Bull) and chocolate / energy bars.
Benzodiazepines (in high doses) are not used for sleeping disorders, but for anxiety, coupled with strong pain killers (of opiate analgesics such as tramadol) may cause insomnia and daytime again to fatigue / sleepiness. This can be annoying at times when one has to concentrate just like on the job. A vicious circle may occur if one of both benzodiazepines and the strong analgesics dependent (addicted) is. Caffeine, especially taken in the evening, can strengthen the insomnia.
When the bed is used for activities such as reading, writing and watching TV, there is a chance that the bed is no longer associated with sleep. Sexual activity, however, can promote sleep.
Some people can not sleep well because their bedroom is too light and others have more problems with noise.
People with insomnia do well to not think about problems, fears and any phobias. If there is continuous reflection, the mind can not fully relax. One solution is to issues, concerns and plans to write anywhere on the following day, so that they are not forgotten but there with confidence on a good night's sleep can be started.
Calm and soothing music also helps because it gives the person something neutral to focus on. It can also be attempted to meditate by concentrating on the music and breathing. Relaxation techniques such as meditation have proven that they can help with sleep problems. They bring the stressed mind and body to rest and that creates an opportunity for a deeper and more restful sleep.
It is well done to develop a fixed sleep pattern by every evening at the same time to go to bed and then also get up at a fixed time. If an alarm is put, it should be avoided that can be continuously looked at the screen.
Sleeping during the day should be avoided in principle.