Insomnia Cause, Effect and SOLUTION!

The insomnia cause you are searching for may be right in your own mirror. That’s right you could be the cause of your sleepless nights. Without even knowing it you could be doing things that are depriving you of a good night sleep.

         •    Do you drink alcohol before bed?

         •    Do you have a TV in your bedroom?

         •    Do you drink anything with caffeine in it even 2 hours before bed?

If you answered yes to any these questions you may be your insomnia cause.

We do so many things every day without even realizing that these things will cause us to need help falling asleep. Don’t blame yourself, more than 70 million people need help falling asleep because of daily habits. Some of these are listed below.

         •    Exercising at night

         •    Watching the news before bed

         •    Having a too long TO DO LIST

         •    Drinking that extra cup of coffee at lunch

         •    Worrying about what will happen tomorrow

Just as we can be our own insomnia cause, we can also be the cure to overcoming insomnia. Small changes in our daily routines are a simple way to start. I know people that simply cut their TO DO LIST by half. Be realistic when it comes to what you can get done in one day. And don’t worry if you can’t finish it. Do the necessary things first and always block out time for relaxing, even 20 minutes a day can make a big change in your sleep pattern.

According to the National Sleep Foundation people today sleep an average of 20% less than we did 100 years ago. The cost associated with this is over $150 billion dollars.

The cost to you is:

         •    Trouble concentrating

         •    Low grades on tests

         •    Poor performance at work

         •    Relationship problems

These are just a few of the things that can happen when you lose sleep. I am sure you can think of many other things that have happened to you because you lost sleep the night before.

You may not be your only insomnia cause. It may be your partner as well.
                 
If your partner is stressed, snores too loudly, tosses and turns all night, that may be contributing to your lack of sleep. Talk to them about what you have learned here and together come up with some best sleep aids for both of you.

Remember you can be the cure for your insomnia cause.       

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Bipolar insomnia is often difficult to treat because it is difficult to diagnose.  People who are bipolar can bounce between being in a state of depression to being in a state of manic.

Manic is defined as being in a frenzy uncontrolled by reason. Depression is an overwhelming sense of sadness and inadequacy.

It is easier for most of us to understand bipolar insomnia in a person who is in the manic state because their thoughts are racing and they feel a lesser need for sleep. In contrast when someone with bipolar disorder is in a depressive state they can’t sleep because thoughts of dread and lack of self worth are running though their minds. Either way a lack of sleep is not good for your health whether you are bipolar or not.

Change Your Behavior

Behavioral modification has been shown to have positive results in bipolar insomnia patients as well as people with other sleep disorder symptoms. Below is a list of things to be avoided before bedtime.

      • No caffeine a few hours before bedtime

      • No stressful activities

      • No exercise

      • No loud music

      • No violent or stressful TV (the news)

      • No bright lighting

Herbs For Insomnia

Normally different herbs could be recommended for insomnia but with bipolar insomnia it is hard to tell the exact cause of the lack of sleep and the wrong herb could have the opposite of the desired effect. Some herbs that can be trusted are:
 
     • Chamomile

     • Lavender

     • Passion flower

Check with a doctor or herbalist for more information on the use of other herbs when dealing with a person who has bipolar insomnia. Also check to see if acupuncture for insomnia would be a good alternative.

The Worst and The Best Sleep Aids

Overcoming insomnia should be treated naturally even in people without a bipolar disorder. Prescription drugs are not the answer in any case. They can be addictive and have dangerous side effects. Over-the-counter medicines can be just as likely to have side effects and become addictive.

At times we may all need help falling asleep. I have found that the best sleep aids are always the natural ones. Whether that means having a cup of chamomile tea or changing a few habits, overcoming insomnia does not have to be hard.

If you have bipolar insomnia you are not alone. It is a common side effect of the disorder. Remember there is always alternative help. Do not resort to another prescription medication.

Technorati Tags: Bipolar Insomnia, insomnia cause