Ask The Sleep Experts

Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by a person’s inability to initiate or maintain sleep. It is also used to describe the feeling of being unrested or unrefreshed after a night’s sleep. It could be temporary, as in jet lag, or a chronic problem. In temporary episodes of insomnia, treatment may not be necessary because our biological clock is capable of healing itself. However, if it is becoming a problem and is affecting your daily life, treatment is certainly called for and tips to cure insomnia may be needed. 

Going to your doctor and having yourself evaluated should be the first thing you should do to determine if there are underlying causes for your sleeplessness. You can also ask your doctor for tips to cure insomnia. Sleeping pills can help a lot but if we consider its side-effects, most people would chicken out. Sometimes sleeping pills are not the answer especially if you are thinking of using it for long periods of time. 

One of the best tips to cure insomnia that anybody can give you is to maintain a good sleep hygiene – our sleeping habits. 

1. Use your clean, well-ventilated bedroom as a sleeping area. Do not eat or watch stimulating shows on TV inside your bedroom. Your mind should associate your bedroom with sleeping. Eliminating distracting noise and setting a temperature conducive for sleeping would make your bedroom a sleeping haven. Working in your bedroom is also not advisable.

2. Schedule your bedtime. Avoid napping during the day so it will be easier for you to sleep at night. Go to bed at a reasonable time and wake up early and expose yourself to bright light. Do it regularly even on weekends. That way, your biological clock will get accustomed to this “schedule” and eventually, you won’t even have to try. Sleep will just come to you naturally every night.

3. No stimulants before and after dinner. I’m talking about colas, coffee, tea, chocolates and cigarettes. Any form of stimulants including alcohol. Alcohol induces sleep but when blood alcohol levels begin to drop, it becomes a stimulant.

4. Light meals at night. Avoid binging at dinner because it will further disrupt your sleeping pattern. Spicy foods are also a no-no, as well as too much sweets. Try a glass of warm milk instead or cheese before going to bed.

5. Exercise regularly. Exercising in the daytime, NOT before bedtime, can aid you in achieving a deep sleep at night. Afternoon workouts and a warm bath just before climbing to bed is enough to whisk you r insomnia away.

Other tips to cure insomnia would be hypnosis and meditation since the most common cause of insomnia is stress. Hypnosis CDs for insomnia are now gaining popularity over sleeping pills because, with hypnosis CDs, you won’t be worrying about side effects and rebound insomnia. Hypnosis CDs for insomnia are basically CDs with soft, slow music or ambient sounds that will calm your nerves and promote relaxation. Others prefer meditation to cure insomnia, also a very effective way to manage insomnia. Meditation gives you an inner peace and balance that can affect your entire being and relieves stress and soothes your mind and body.