Insomnia affects your health and severely inhibits your ability to function at your best.
You need to overcome this problem if you are going to live productively during the days that lie ahead.
What Causes Insomnia? Insomnia is more than being unable to fall asleep.
You may suffer from it if you find yourself waking up several times throughout the night.
This is assuming you've ruled out other health problems such as incontinence.
Being unable to sleep is the result of hormonal imbalances, stress, distress, depression, medications, or health problems.
Any one of these problems causes you body to become imbalanced.
Overcoming Insomnia Many turn to medication for help sleeping.
The problem with this method is that it can cause other problems such as a chemical dependency to the medication you are taking.
Here are nine safer actions you can take toward overcoming insomnia: 1) Avoid alcohol, sugar and caffeine.
Alcohol doesn't allow your body to fall into a deep sleep.
While you may fall asleep, don't be surprised when you don't stay asleep.
Caffeine, a known stimulant should be avoided for several hours before bed time.
If you have trouble giving it up, consider cutting back a little each day until you are able to cut it out altogether.
2) Try a natural supplement like Melatonin which helps invoke sleep.
Your body naturally produces it but for various reasons, your production may not be sufficient.
Melatonin supplements can be purchased at your local health food store.
3) Adjust the temperature in your bedroom.
For optimal sleep, The American Sleep Association recommends maintaining an environmental temperature in your bedroom of no more than 70 degrees.
4) Use natural sleep aids such as essential oils and herbal sleep aid teas.
Lavender and Valerian essential oils are commonly used to treat insomnia.
They help to relax the mind and body.
Valerian is also available at your local health food store as a sleep tea along with Chamomile and St.
John's Wort.
5) Stick to a routine sleep schedule.
Your body gets accustomed to sleeping when you "program" it to do so at the same time daily.
6) Shut off all televisions, video games and computers at last an hour before bedtime.
They are very distracting to a good night's rest.
7) Shut out as much light as possible.
Your body's natural rhythms are directly affected by light and even the smallest amount can cause you difficulty sleeping.
8) Reduce your stress levels.
It is common knowledge that stress can inhibit sleep.
When you are severely stressed out, you may have trouble sleeping for days at a time.
Therefore, limit access to those things or people (within your control), that cause you additional stress.
9) Try acupuncture, a tradition Chinese treatment for insomnia.
It is a safe natural method for re-balancing the body's energy.
When you're unable to sleep, it's because your body is imbalanced.
This ancient practice helps bring the body back into balance so that you can fall asleep effortlessly.
There are alternative health products on the market like the Chi Dream Sleep Aid that use the acupuncture technique to help you fall sleep.
Otherwise, it can be administered by a licensed acupuncturist.
Use a combination of these 9 ways to overcome insomnia.
Try one of the natural sleep aids for one week and the melatonin supplements the following week, but not at the same time.
The remaining ways to help you sleep can be tried in conjunction with the sleep aids and supplements.
Overcoming insomnia may take some time but be persistent for the sake of your long term health and peace.