Trouble sleeping is a problem most people have had at some point in their life, but when it is frequent and begins to affect your day-to-day life, you may have a type of insomnia. Insomnia is a common problem, and it can come in the form of chronic, acute, middle, late, initial onset, and comorbid insomnia, with each referring to different types of sleeping issues. Insomnia tends to be more common in people who have depression and/or anxiety, and it can have several different causes. Let’s take a look at some of the causes of insomnia and what you can do about it.
Causes
As is the case with most health problems, insomnia can have many possible causes, which can make it more difficult to find the solution for each person. Insomnia can come in many forms and may be due to certain medications, drug and alchol usage, restless leg syndrome, chronic pain, sleep apnea, stress, anxiety, and/or poor sleep habits. When these issues are addressed and improved, it usually becomes easier to fall asleep and stay asleep. It is important to try to determine the cause of insomnia because it may make it easier to find a solution that works for you.
Solutions
Having insomnia can make sleep a stressful thing which may worsen the problem. Practicing stress-reducing techniques like yoga or taking a hot bath, and getting into a daily bedtime routine may help you fall asleep each night. Avoiding screens at least one hour before bed is recommended because the blue light emitted from phone screens, televisions and tablets can negatively affect your sleep. You should also try to avoid caffeine for about seven hours before bedtime. If your insomnia is caused by restless legs you can try a mineral supplement like Active Multiminerals may help reduce muscle spasms and cramps. If you need something to help you relax before bed, EZ Relax may work for you. It contains L-theanine, GABA, ashwagandha extract, valerian extract and passionflower extract to help promote relaxation.
It is important to get enough sleep each night as chronic sleep deprivation can contribute to the development of many different health conditions, and can affect your emotional health and energy levels. Do your best to form good sleeping habits and work on reducing stress so you can feel your best each day.
You can listen to our Counting Sheep, Need Some Sleep? podcast episode here. You can also listen on our YouTube channel here.