Posts Tagged ‘natural cures for insomnia’

Causes of Insomnia: Are You Highly Sensitive?

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009
  • Are you not able to get to sleep even when exhausted?
  • Do you get a buzz from thinking and figuring things out which keeps you awake at night?
  • Do you find it difficult to get up on time because you have had a hard time falling asleep?

If you answered yes to these questions, you may be highly sensitive. Your level of sensitivity may explain your insomnia. Your causes of insomnia may be different than other people because of your sensitivity. Seeing and understanding the underlying cause is a major part of the cure.

Elaine Aron writes about the personality trait of high sensitivity that affects one out of every five people. According to Dr. Aron, this person has a sensitive nervous system and therefore is more easily overwhelmed in a stimulating environment. It  is not uncommon for very sensitive people to have sleep problems because they are SO aware of the subtleties in their environment.

They are built to experience everything very deeply and tune into all the details around them. As they are strongly sensitive to distractions, noises, movements, temperatures, and sensations, they are more likely to notice them as well as be awakened by them.

So… Are You Highly Sensitive?

Take this self-test to find out your degree of sensitivity. There is also a super sensitive person self-test that you can take to get more detailed feedback.

What is the Cure for Insomnia for Sensitive People?

If you are one it is important therefore that you understand and accept the way you are. There are many things you can do to help yourself to sleep better at night. The key is to avoid over-stimulating yourself in the evening and giving yourself time to relax.

Here are some natural cures for insomnia:

  • Create a nest – a safe place to sleep – that is quiet and dark and set at a cool temperature. Block out as much light and sound stimulation as possible. Maybe earplugs and a sleeping eye mask will help you to tune out and turn off at night. (Personally, I don’t like them as the ear plugs hurt my ears and the mask makes me sweat)
  • If you sleep with a partner who tends to be restless, you may find that you need your own bed or room to sleep in
  • Go to bed around 10pm
  • Do not watch stimulating TV at night
  • Do not use a computer before bed
  • Do not exercise in the evening
  • Eat your evening meal by 7pm
  • Take regular warm baths with a few drops of lavender oil before going to bed (put a drop on your pillow)
  • Schedule some down time for yourself every day
  • Give yourself plenty of opportunity and time to think during the day (let your mind roam like a herd of buffaloes across the plains)

For more information on and practical help with your high sensitivity, check out the following books.

The Highly Sensitive Person:

Daily Exercises For Calming Your Senses:

DISCLAIMER: The content and opinions delivered through this website are offered as a source of information about health and well-being and are for informational purposes only. The articles and written comments made on this site are not to be understood as a substitute for the accurate and appropriate professional medical advice in a one-on-one relationship with a Medical Doctor.

7 Steps That Can Provide Natural Cures For Insomnia

Saturday, November 21st, 2009

Suffering from insomnia may be part of a bigger picture – how you are living your life. What you are doing during the day may be what is giving you insomnia at night. For you, the cure for insomnia may really be about taking better care of your general health and well being.

It is all about letting yourself rest and relax in order to improve your ability to get to sleep and stay asleep for the night. In fact, the bottom line is that you do know how to fall asleep. You have had this ability since you were young.

I have had insomnia on and off for many years. The following are the natural cures for insomnia that I’ve found provide the best help over time. Try the following insomnia remedies to improve your ability to get to sleep and improve the quality of your sleep.

1. Natural Supplements

For immediate relief from chronic insomnia, try taking natural supplements that contain GABA, melatonin and valerian. But check with your Doctor first. I only like to take them as an occasional insomnia treatment as I don’t want to develop a psychological dependence on them even if they are natural.  Furthermore, I believe that insomnia drugs are only a short-term solution and might make you worse in the long run. For more information on natural aids for sleeping, take a look at this site: About Natural Sleep Aids.

2. Develop An Evening Routine

Having a regular routine at the end of the day is conducive to sleep. The aim is to train yourself (mind and body) to relax before going to bed. Try to go to bed at about the same time every night. Many people like routine. It is comforting.

Identify if you are a lark or an owl – as your natural body clock can affect the quality and quantity of rest you are getting. Set your regular time for falling asleep based on whether you are a lark or an owl. Furthermore if you are a lark, taking a nap if possible around 1pm can improve your well-being. If you are an owl, the best time for a nap is around 2.30pm.

3. Manage Your Stress Levels

We live in a stressful world. Managing stress is important in adjusting your lifestyle to help alleviate insomnia and improve your quality of life. There are activities that can help reduce your stress level, such as playing sports; connecting with friends; taking care of plants and pets; massages; stretching; walking in nature; regular vacations; and talking about your life to a trusted friend.

4. Regular Light Exercise

Aerobic exercise three times per week will help improve your health and well-being and play a part in your insomnia cure. I suggest going for a light run in a park or on a field if you can – even if it is only running for 30 seconds. Gradually increase the time you do run.  I find that a brisk walk is the next best thing. I like to go for a brisk walk or run on a Saturday morning, a swim for 30 minutes on a Monday evening, and go dancing for an hour on a Thursday evening. All kinds of dancing provide light aerobic exercise, such as tango, jive, hip hop, jazz and cha cha cha, The best time I find for exercise is between 5pm and 7pm. Exercising later than that can cause insomnia for some people.

5. Eat Well, But Eat Right

What you eat can be one of the insomnia causes. Eating a healthy diet can help you sleep better at night because your body is better able to digest some food more than others. What you eat and how you eat is also your best defense against disease and illness. Certain foods can interfere with sleep, especially those that stimulate wakefulness.  Spicy foods can cause heartburn.

6. Reduce The Addictions

Over time, aim to minimize your dependence on caffeine, sugar, alcohol, drugs, and TV. These addictions can affect the length and quality of your sleep through the over-stimulation of your nervous system. They can impair your body and lower your immune system.

7. There’s No Need To Worry

Do you have trouble switching off your mind at night? Do you find that you can’t stop thinking about the events of your day? If so, often writing out your worries will allow you to let go of these thoughts and relax. Each night before going to sleep, write down all of your worries on a piece of paper and put them into a worry box for safe keeping. Now you can forget about them until the morning when you can take the worries out once more and deal with them.

Conclusion

Focus on applying the above steps as best as you can. Little by little. One small step at a time will lead to the cure for insomnia. It is important that we get adequate amounts of sleep. Most people need at least seven to eight hours per night.  Getting enough sleep lightens our mood,  increases our energy levels and improves our health and well-being.

DISCLAIMER: The content and opinions delivered through this website are offered as a source of information about health and well-being and are for informational purposes only.  The articles and written comments made on this site are not to be understood as a substitute for the accurate and appropriate professional medical advice in a one-on-one relationship with a Medical Doctor.