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Not getting enough sleep
can contribute to common health problems such as heart disease, high
blood pressure, and diabetes. However, insomnia is not something that
you have to live with. There are a number of cures that you can try.
You can make some simple changes to your lifestyle and daily habits
and combine this with some over the counter (OTC) supplements in order
to find relief.
Anxiety and depression are
major contributors to insomnia. It's a catch 22 in that anxiety and
depression can cause insomnia and insomnia can make anxiety and depression
worse. This creates a vicious cycle that never ends unless there is
some type of intervention. For people who suffer from anxiety, depression
and insomnia, a combination of psychological intervention and insomnia
relief medicine can be all that is needed in order to put a stop to
this cycle. It is possible that by treating the insomnia first, the
anxiety and depression may become easier to treat.
Common cures for insomnia
include taking OTC pills such as those found on this page and also changing
your daily habits. One thing that you may want to do is to set up a
sleep schedule. It helps if you can go to bed and get up at the same
time every day. This can be quite difficult if you happen to work a
variety of shifts. In that case, you will probably want to set up a
sleep schedule where you go to bed a certain number of hours after your
shift ends and then get up a certain number of hours before starting
your next shift.
You also want to make your
bedroom into a space that is only used for sleeping. It is helpful if
your bedroom is cool and dark. Try to only use your bedroom for sleeping
and only go there when it is time to go to sleep. These steps can help
to train your brain into thinking that the bedroom is your 'sleeping
place'.
What you consume can also
affect your insomnia. In general, alcohol and caffeine should be avoided
in the hours that lead up to the time that you will be going to bed.
Also, try to not eat a large meal before bedtime. However, it is just
as important to not go to bed hungry.
Once you have adjusted your
daily habits and routines so that you are going to bed at the same time
and you are not hungry, you should start to be able to gradually get
more and more sleep. You can use over the counter insomnia supplements
in order to give you a boost during the first few months and then slowly
wean yourself so that they are not required at all. As you learn to
manage your anxiety or depression, sleep will be easier to attain. As
you get better and better at sleeping, anxiety and depression should
start to improve as well.