Insomnia is a sleeping disorder characterized by persistent difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep despite the opportunity. It is typically followed by functional impairment while awake. Insomniacs have been known to complain about being unable to close their eyes or "rest their mind" for more than a few minutes at a time. Both organic and non-organic insomnia constitute a sleep disorder.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 60 million Americans suffer from insomnia each year. Insomnia tends to increase with age and affects about 40 percent of women and 30 percent of men.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Insomnia - Three Ways to Beat It

insomnia is a common problem as a recent Which? Report suggested that in the United Kingdom "Up to one in four people report difficulty sleeping at least three times per week, and the problem is more common in older people." In the United States? s estimated that 2.4 billion U.S. dollars spent annually on rules and insomnia remedies. Non-prescription remedies sales including sales of melatonin top hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

The five most common symptoms associated with insomnia are;

1. Difficulty falling asleep.

2. Waking up frequently during the night.

3. Difficulty returning to sleep.

4. Waking up too early in the morning.

5. Un-restful sleep.

The amount of sleep needed varies from person to person. It is an individual thing. As we age, it? S usual to sleep less. This is partly because the decline of the natural hormone melatonin regulates the body of circadian rhythms. It is the circadian rhythms, which in turn regulate sleep patterns. It is not unusual for sleep patterns to be temporarily affected by sudden changes in weight or as a result of negative emotions such as anxiety, depression, stress, tension or even jet lag. Insomnia is rarely a physical problem, it is usually caused by a psychological problem. So, if you solve the psychological problem, and you? Ll find that the insomnia will disappear.

First, examine, diagnose and treat any underlying medical or psychological problems that may contribute to sleeplessness. By eliminating the cause of the problem there? S likely that sleep patterns will naturally return to normal.

Second, identify behaviors, May prompt or worsen insomnia. Be aware of all the bad habits, take some action to stop or reduce them. Known behaviors that can cause insomnia are a large intake of caffeine, alcohol before bedtime or smoking.

Third, behavioral therapies and techniques to improve sleep. Successful and popular therapies to beat insomnia include; relaxation therapy, the psychological? Anchor? or sleep triggers; sleep proposal audios that using binaural sounds and positive proposals to trigger a natural state of relaxation and re-definition to the negative emotions that lead to insomnia.

Whatever you do to beat insomnia, take some form of affirmative action. Don? T only hope that the problem away. Because what you have to lose other than another sleepless night?

 

Jim Brackin contributes practical tips, help and advice on popular psychology to a variety of magazines like Cosomopolitan, Real, Spirit & Destiny and Women's Own. He appears regularly on TV for Sky News (UK) as a body language expert, developed http://www.personaliteye.com that provides free visually based personality profiles and contributes techniques to reduce stress and anxiety to the self-help therapy site the Virtual Therapist.

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