Any discussion about how to treat insomnia must first explore the different types of the condition. Remedies that are effective one one type may be completely inappropriate for another, so, let’s start at the beginning…
Suffering from periods of insomnia is not uncommon. Some estimates say that up to fifty percent of us will be affected at some point in our lives, and virtually all cases will fall into one of three main categories:
- Transient Insomnia causes symptoms for less than a week.
- Short-Term Insomnia lasts from 1 to 3 weeks.
- Chronic Insomnia lasts for more than three weeks, and can continue forever.
Transient & short-term insomnia are normally the result of (1) a temporary medical condition or injury or, (2) an event that has caused a stressful condition in your life. Some examples might include:
- Suffering a broken bone and being unable to sleep because of the pain
- Anticipating issues (real or imagined) with your job or personal life
- The stress of having to cram for an important exam
- A change in your work hours
- Trying to sleep in unfamiliar surroundings
Any of these things (and many others) can cause insomnia over the short term. The good news is that, once the situation returns to normal, or the crisis passes, the insomnia will usually go away, as well.
If you think your insomnia problems fall into this category, don’t worry about how to treat insomnia. Instead, look to solve the underlying problem and let your insomnia take care of itself.
Chronic insomnia, however, is a completely different matter. This is where knowing how to treat insomnia (and when not to) can be of tremendous benefit.
Many cases of chronic insomnia are linked to an underlying medical or psychological problem. Psychological issues include stress, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia (among others). Medical issues that can cause insomnia include angina (chest pain), painful acid reflux disease, any type of chronic pain , fatigue, and many others. Any chronic medical condition that causes physical discomfort can easily trigger this type of insomnia.
Like short-term insomnia, in these situations the best course of action is to address the underlying condition. With these more serious issues, however, medical or professional intervention is usually necessary. While it’s true that you may be able to find something to help you sleep, neglecting the underlying cause can create far more problems for you than simple lack of sleep.
How to Treat Insomnia | The Good News…
This is not the case for most people that suffer chronic insomnia. Absent some underlying issue, the vast majority of cases can be traced to a low level of the hormone melatonin, which your body uses to regulate your circadian rhythm, or “internal clock”.
Natural melatonin comes from your pineal gland, located deep within the center of your brain. The gland is stimulated by the absence of light, causing your melatonin level to increase in a dark environment. As more of the hormone is released into your system, your heart rate and breathing decrease a bit and you begin to get drowsy. This makes falling asleep very easy.
Conversely, being in a bright environment causes the gland to cease melatonin production. Then, sleep becomes difficult or impossible.
Think of it as Mother Nature’s way of telling us to sleep at night and stay wake during the day. Unfortunately, in this day and time that isn’t always possible.
Your age may also be a factor. Many researchers believe that melatonin production levels decrease as we age. Some say that this is the reason that older folks tend to fall asleep earlier and wake earlier than they did in their younger years.
Whatever the reason, though, the fact is that having a low level of melatonin is believed to be one of the primary causes of chronic insomnia.
How to Treat Insomnia | The Solution…
Millions of people just like you have found that chronic insomnia can be relieved by a simple two-step treatment:
- No matter what time of the day or night you try to sleep, make sure that the room stays dark. Any light source will affect your melatonin level and make falling asleep more difficult.
- Fortunately, your body cannot tell the difference between melatonin that is produced internally and that which is ingested. Taking a good melatonin supplement has brought relief from insomnia to countless folks, and probably will for you, too!
