How To Treat Insomnia?

15 December, 2009 No Comment

Insomnia, commonly known as sleeplessness is the inability to either fall asleep or to remain asleep for an appropriate number of hours. Sleep is important for every individual as it helps the body relax and also enables it to grow and repair any wear and tear.

The number of hours for which an individual should sleep varies from person to person depending upon several factors such as his/her fitness level, emotional state, stress levels etc. Lack of adequate sleep can result in a number of problems such as fatigue, headache, lack of coordination, inability to concentrate, stress, digestive ailments and dizziness.

You might be facing difficulty in falling or staying asleep if you are excited, anxious, depressed or are too worked up. Being unable to sleep soundly once in a while is all right, but if this is becoming a constant problem and is beginning to interfere with your normal day to day life, you need to do something about it.

How can insomnia be treated?

There are several drugs that promise sound sleep but have an array of side effects such as dizziness, nausea, blurred vision, irregular heart beat, gastrointestinal problems and kidney or liver damage. These drugs or sleeping pills are highly addictive when taken regularly and may be hard to give up.

Insomnia can be treated naturally and effectively by making a few changes in your lifestyle and improving your sleeping habits. The following techniques are also quite helpful in combating insomnia:

Meditation:

The ancient art of meditation involves deep breathing exercises, enhanced mental focus and awareness that work collectively to induce a state of deep relaxation. This helps put the mind at rest and soothes the smooth muscle groups of the body thereby, enabling you to sleep well.

Deep breathing exercises:

Lie down in the corpse position of yoga in a darkened room. Relax your muscles beginning from your toes, legs, abdomen, chest, arms, neck and back all the way to your face. Now breathe in very slowly till a count of 5 and hold your breath till a count of 3. Exhale up to a count of 5 and repeat. This exercise helps you relax and sleep soundly.

Herbs:

Herbal remedies such as hot teas made from valerian, chamomile, lemon balm and St. John’s wort are excellent for inducing sleep. Having a cup of herbal tea at least 30 minutes before retiring to bed will help you sleep without interruption.

Improve your lifestyle habits:

This means that you must form a regular sleeping routine and avoid working into the wee hours of the morning. Try attempting to fall asleep at a particular time every night and do not let anything come in the way of your sleep.

Once a routine has developed, it will automatically become easier for you to fall asleep. Avoid smoking or drinking tea or coffee before hitting the bed as these substances are stimulating and interfere with your capacity to fall asleep.