Sleep Insomnia Issues and Remedies
Posted in Insomnia
Nothing can be more frustrating than getting into my warm bed after a long day of work, and not being able to fall asleep. It is almost like, the minute I get into bed, a switch is turned on in my head and my brain starts racing. I could be falling asleep on the couch in front of the TV, but as soon as I get in bed, my brain becomes alive. Every item that needs to be added to my “to-do” list flashes in my brain. I begin thinking about things that didn’t get done, worrying about situations or events I can’t control, and sleeping becomes impossible.
Other nights, I have no problem falling asleep, but wake up every hour on the dot throughout the rest of the night. It becomes almost comical as I look at the clock every time I wake up and it is same time, just an hour later. The more I worry about how much sleep I am missing it seems, the less sleep I get.
Insomnia is a common problem in our society. We are busy, involved in a lot things and are left with a set number of hours a day in which to accomplish all that we have to do. We run off caffeine which keeps us awake and running during the day, but can sometimes lead to sleepless nights.
I have been very hesitant in filling my sleep medication prescriptions. The majority of them are addicting, and many people become dependent on the medication to fall asleep at all. I don’t want to become dependent on medicine, so I have tried to look for alternative solutions to help me sleep, before I begin taking sleeping pills. I drink calming herbal tea, half an hour before I go to sleep, which usually helps calm my body and mind down. We took our television out of our bedroom, so that we no longer watch TV in bed and have also considered purchasing adjustable beds. If I am kept awake with worries and “to do” lists, I pull out my notebook and make a list of all my worries and tasks. After writing those down, my brain seems to relax and clear up more. The nights that I just can’t fall asleep, I try to get up and do something productive, yet tiring, like cleaning the bathroom, doing the dishes, or another task that will wear out my body.
