Insomnia can be incredibly frustrating, especially if it starts to haunts you night after night. One of the most challenging things is, the more we get frustrated and try to fight insomnia, the worse it gets! Try sitting up and reading until you feel sleepy again. Or listen to a relaxing audio. Trust that by getting you mind off worrying about sleep and instead enjoying this quiet and restful time, you will soon fall back into a deep and restorative sleep.
The first thing to do to relieve your insomnia is look into the possible causes and find the remedy for those that apply to you. Remember, there can be more than one culprit that causes your sleepless nights, so do not give up after just changing one thing. Make sure your covering all the possible causes of your insomnia. Know also that the shift in your sleep patterns could take some time, especially if you have had insomnia for quite a while. Be patient with yourself and trust that your body will readjust to sleeping better in its own time.
Following are some common causes of insomnia;
Stress due to some traumatic change or event, such as an illness, or loss of a loved one. Even a minor event, such as a argument can case temporary insomnia. If the problem is on going, find a friend or therapist to talk to and help you learn to adjust to the situation.
Medications. Insomnia can be a side effect of various medications, both prescription and over-the-counter. Talk to your health care practitioner if your taking medications to see if they could be part of the problem.
Certain medical conditions can cause insomnia. Some of these conditions include diabetes, gastrointestinal problems, hyperthyroid arthritis and strokes. Chronic pain of any kind can be an ongoing cause of insomnia.
Alcohol use can be a cause. Often people think a drink before bed helps, but it actually can cause a fragmented and less restorative sleep.
Caffeine can also keep you awake. Try only drinking coffee in the morning hours and cutting back on quantities. Better yet, try substituting green tea. Its caffeine content is much lower and is actually good for your body! Remember chocolate and cola contain caffeine as well.
Nicotine can also act as a stimulant and keep you awake at night.
Menopause can be a common cause of insomnia. Again talk to your health care provider to have your hormone levels checked. There are also natural sources of hormone replacement that can be used
safely. If your health provider is not educated in this area, there are plenty that are. Don not be afraid to ask around!
Depression can cause insomnia due to chemical imbalance in the brain. If you need to use prescription drugs for your depression make sure your doctor chooses one that will not make your insomnia worse! You may need to experiment with different approaches here. Again,there are also natural solutions if your symptoms are not too severe. Doing your own online research and finding a supportive holistic practitioner can help.
Make sure that your sleeping environment is not too warm or too cold. Also making sure it is quiet and dark enough. Soft earplugs, and an eye pillow made for sleep can really help. (Most pharmacies carry these)
Watching TV or working on the computer before bed can be very stimulating. Try doing something more relaxing, such as reading or listening to something soothing. Often people find this can be a great time for a relaxing yoga routine. Learning to meditate can also do wonders for re- patterning your brain for sleep. Both of these can go a long ways to help you feel better, both physically and emotionally.
Lack of exercise. Try and get at least a good half hour,or more,of vigorous exercise every day. Do something you enjoy. Brisk walks can be excellent, especially if combined with the company of good friends! Join a gym, even if its just to use the treadmill on those rainy days.
Stress, anxiety and worry are obvious causes of insomnia. Incorporating some of the above techniques, such as yoga, meditation, talking to a therapist can help turn these patterns around. Remember worry never gets us anywhere, except more worried! Try writing your thoughts down in a journal and then putting them aside. Ask inwardly for help. Whether you call this prayer, meditation or just listening to your deeper self or intuition, it can be our most powerful tool and comfort. That is if we trust the answers will come and listen!
lita stone
http://www.sleepaudios.com
lita stone became popular on youtube for her relaxing voice on hermassage training videos sense then she has been selling her relaxing guided meditations and sleep audios at her website www.sleepaudios.com a natural, uplifting and highly effective solution for insomnia, stress or anxiety.