reactivoradio.com

Posts Tagged ‘Insomnia’

One of the worst things ever is to suffer from Insomnia or sleeplessness. Insomnia is a sleep disorder where you either do not sleep well, or have difficulty sleeping. Obviously, if you do not get enough sleep, it can lead to a host of health problems and make you quite lethargic and tired. If you suffer from insomnia for more than a few weeks, it is time to see your doctor and get treated. So what causes insomnia? There can be many reasons why you suffer from insomnia – it could be just the one factor, or a combination of them. These can be broadly divided into:

- Psychological causes
- Physical causes
- A temporary incident

Let us look at the psychological causes of insomnia first. These include anxiety, stress and depression.

- Anxiety is one of the most common reasons. Anxiety makes you feel helpless, tense and nervous. You may be anxious because someone made you feel that way at work. You could be worrying about someone or about your financial status. Or it could be a problem with a relationship. As a result, the anxiety does not let you sleep well.

- Stress is a major factor for insomnia. Depending on how you handle emotional and physical stress, this too could cause your insomnia. Stress can also result from how you respond to various life situations.

- Depression causes disturbances in your mood, making you feel sad and hopeless. Depression is known to cause sleeping disorders. The combination of insomnia and depression can be quite hard to deal with.

While psychological reasons can cause insomnia, a lack of sleep can in turn result in psychological problems. The two conditions can become a vicious cycle. There are also physical causes for insomnia. In women, hormonal changes like PMS, periods, pregnancy and menopause can result in insomnia. When the levels of melatonin, the sleep control hormone decrease with age, sleeplessness is a common problem. This happens as we age. Apart from these, there are medical conditions like allergies, cardiac disease, hypertension, etc. that can cause insomnia. Even pain can keep you from sleeping well. In some families, insomnia seems to be a genetic issue, although there is no concrete proof to support this. It is also possible to suffer from temporary insomnia, which is triggered by certain events. If you have just experienced a major life change, where you lost a loved one or had an argument with someone, you could suffer from insomnia as a reaction. Insomnia can also hit you if you are jet lagged and traveled through different time zones. For those who suddenly changed their work timing to the night shift, adjusting to the new sleeping habits can be difficult. Think about whether you take any prescription medicines which could cause insomnia. You can also have trouble sleeping if you have more than your share of alcohol or coffee. Insomnia is common in those who have recently moved house or cities, but this is temporary and more of an adjustment issue. The good news is that you can get professional help right away and tackle these causes for insomnia. There are doctors and sleep specialists who can help you cope.

More than likely you have heard of insomnia, but usually you think of it as an adult problem. Insomnia is very common in adults; however, often kids have sleep problems as well. If you happen to have a child who is having trouble sleeping they may be dealing with childhood insomnia.

When it comes to adult insomnia, figuring out the causes can be a bit difficult; however, usually with children there is usually a cause that is quite obvious. So, here are a few of the causes of childhood insomnia you need to be aware of.

Cause #1 – Upset Stomach – One very common cause of insomnia in children can actually be an upset stomach. If your child is dealing with an upset stomach or constipation that is dealing with stomach pain, this could be causing the insomnia problem. Take time to figure out whether your child is eating right and going to the bathroom regularly.

Cause #2 – Stress – Many of adults deal with insomnia that is caused by stress, and stress can cause insomnia in children as well. Talk to your child and try to find out what is going on in their lives. Are they dealing with a tough time in school, are things tense around the home, or is your child having problems with a bully? There can be many things that stress out your child, which can lead to insomnia.

Stress is also a major cause of insomnia in teens. Teenagers in high school are usually under a great deal of pressure to study long hours. They may also be dealing with relationship problems and competition on the sports field or in the classroom. Extracting information from a teenager isn’t easy, but it’s worth persevering. Counselling is also available.

Cause #3 – Sleep Apnea – Believe it or not, children can be affected by sleep apnea as well, which is when they stop breathing during their sleep. If you think that this could be the problem with your child, they may need to be evaluated medically to see if this is really the problem. If your child is constantly tired despite sleeping long hours, sleep apnea may well be the culprit.

Cause #4 – Pain – Pain is another common cause of childhood insomnia, and the pain can come from a number of different places. Children can get fibromyalgia, childhood rheumatoid arthritis can hit or growing pains may even be the problem. If your child is playing sports, muscle cramps could even be causing pain that keeps them up at night.

As you can see there are a variety of causes of insomnia in children. No doubt you want to find ways that you can help alleviate the problem. Well, in many cases, it’s as simple as finding a natural cure.

There are a variety of natural cures out there today that can help treat childhood insomnia . You won’t want to give them prescription medications or over the counter treatments that are full of chemicals and dangerous drugs, so consider some of the excellent natural options that can be found to treat insomnia in children.

Find More Insomnia Stress Articles

Prolonged sleep deprivation can take a punishing toll on almost every part of our body -  Our heart, Stomach, Muscle Strength, Digestive System, Skin, Bones, Vision, Speech and Mind.  We do not understand the huge benefits of sleep and we risk obesity, heart disease, strokes, depression, decreased sex drive, along with non creativity and mood swings by turning a blind eye to sleep.

Sleep’s purpose goes far beyond ridding ourselves of feeling of tiredness: hormonal balance, enhanced learning ability, better heart functioning and cell repair, help with living longer and staying more active, and looking younger can all be the result of good sleep, and that is just scratching the surface

Even dreaming has a role in our daily lives, enabling us to play out different scenarios in our heads and in turn enhancing our emotional balance and lowering our stress levels.

For some of us every night is tossing and turning as we wait to drift off.  We begin to dread bedtimes because bedtimes meant hours of anxiety because we just can’t fall asleep.  We are so tired by morning we lack the strength to carry out our usual chores effectively. 

Whilst some of us can happily make do with six hours sleep others find it difficult to carry on their day to day activities without the full controversial eight hours sleep.

According to controversial wisdom we are meant to spend a third of our lives asleep but for those of us who struggle to get a decent nights rest, it does not feel like it.    Half of adults have symptoms of insomnia at any given time and causes are various – from hormonal to event related stress and anxiety. 

Here are some effects of poor sleep on our bodies

 Heart – Without a refreshing sleep the body goes into panic mode, boosting the production of stress hormones which in turn increases our blood pressure – one of the big risk factors for heart attacks and strokes.  And if you are constantly tired because of poor sleep, you wont feel much like cooking and eating healthily or exercising – your overall immune system will be weakened and you will be more vulnerable to infections.

Stomach – Have you ever noticed your stomach rumbling more when you are sleeping badly?  This is because your body is awake longer and needs more fuel, and sleeplessness produces more gherlin – an appetite stimulator, and less leptin – an appetite depressant.  This is why insomnia or poor sleep linked to obesity.
Vision – Your vision may be blurred because your eyes have not rested enough.  They will turn red because the blood vessels near the eye become dilated creating the bloodshot look.  Dark circles appear because the lack of sleep causes the blood vessels to become more visible through the skin.
Mind – Mild sleep depravation can lead to disorientation, confusion, moodiness and slight anxiety – just 90 minutes of sleep loss can result in 32% drop in daytime alertness. 
Speech – During some phases of sleep the neurons in the cerebral cortex regenerate.  If sleep is interrupted, this regeneration cannot occur and your speech becomes slurred.
Skin – Sleep helps get rid of the body’s toxins, so a build up of late nights and poor sleep will lead to spots.  You will also become dehydrated after a few nights of bad sleep resulting in scaly skin.
Bones – Growth hormone is released during sleep, so if children, teenagers or young adults who are still growing are sleep deprived they might be slightly stunted says Doctor McGrath.  Studies in war zones have found that children are smaller because they are kept awake at night.
Muscle Strength – Lack of sleep can result in general muscle ache and joint pain.  On study on Sport and strength from the University of Chicago Medical School found that after only one week of sleep restriction young healthy males suffered a rapid deterioration of bodily functions

Now let’s look at what we can do to re-balance our sleep patterns and have a deep sleep to promote good health.

 Change your beliefs about sleep – “I can’t get to sleep” becomes a fulfilling prophecy.
Change your sleep habits
Train your brain to fall asleep with the Sleep and to calm your anxiety with the Sleep Optimisation Tracks (the most fast working and effective sleep tool I have come across so far in my search) http://www.sleeptracks.com/go.php?offer=persevere1&pid=arb.
Have an evening routine that makes a transition from daytime to night time.   You need to let your brain activity subside during night time by making it a habit to unwind with things like meditation, relaxation etc.
Take it easy and avoid strenuous activity less than 3 hours prior to bedtime.
Avoid confrontation or task that taxes your brain, fill it with chitter chatter or causes you anxiety.
Bore yourself to sleep by doing mundane tasks like paper work or reading a text book
Take a warm dissolving and relaxing bath.   Your body temperature will rise at first but it will ease drastically helping to send you to sleep.
Take your bedroom cosy and harmonic (the cosier the better) and make it a room just for sleeping and making love.
Avoid things that tell your brain to engage in activities
Make sure you have silence external noises can disrupt your sleep
Make your room as dark as possible in the evening (use dimmer switches if possible).   Sleep mask is also an excellent idea for blocking out light.
Cool sleeping room – your room temperature should be 65-70% F
Use “Fall Asleep Track”  http://www.sleeptracks.com/go.php?offer=persevere1&pid=1
Wake up at about the same time every day (your sleep clock needs a fine tune cue)

Please drop me an email if you need further help solving your sleep, stress and anxiety problems.

Wishing you a wonderful new experience trying out your new found knowledge on sleep.

A Boadu   sleepandstressnurse@googlemail.com

A total 41% of American workers interviewed reported an increase in work stress on their jobs compared to a year earlier.   Another poll taken among Americans showed that more than one half of the respondents (58%) reported having experienced insomnia at least a few nights a week.   This is a trend in American health, where we are seeing many common psychological problems such as stress and insomnia moving to an epidemic stage (epidemic means 1 in 4 have the ailment).

Why have these psychological problems reached epidemic numbers?   There are many reasons for stress, insomnia, restlessness and anxiety, such as significant personal events, like losing a job, marital problems, money worries and generally worrying.   Other causes can include physical illness that causes pain, depression, shift work, caffeine or alcohol consumption, and medication side-effects.   Each one is a drain on your nutritional support system, this is a scientific fact.

The drain on your nutritional support system is the common thread here which runs through all of these problems.   What do I mean when I say drain on your nutritional support system?   I mean that each one of those problems burns up large amounts of your B vitamins and minerals.   Those B vitamins and minerals are your nutritional support and if they get low the problems you are experiencing will seem to grow in number and severity.  

That nutritional support system is the foundation from which you handle everyday problems.   When that foundation is supporting you; you feel more confident and you handle your everyday troubles and crises with ease and consideration.   If you are not supported, you may handle the problem, but you feel the physical and emotional drain on your body and mind.   Then where is the next problem/crises coming from; this is the modern world with plenty of them to spare, you need support.     

Are you experiencing some of the symptoms of a drained nutritional support system, stress, anxiety, insomnia or restlessness?   Well do not expect your body to run trouble free without replacing the nutrition in that system.   Not replenishing that system is like expecting your car to run without oil.   Look below at the different B vitamins and see the symptoms you can acquire due to their deficiencies, all scientifically proven.

Why can’t we just get our vitamins from our diet?   You just have to look around you to see the evidence that the majority of Americans have no idea what a good diet is (see article “America Is Number One, The Fattest Industrialized Country In The World”).   At every turn in our society we are, in fact, encouraged to eat foods that have almost no nutritional value by the media.   Most markets do not offer us much of a choice.  The food is refined, irradiated or poorly grown at the farm; all three destroying the nutritional value of the food.   The very people who are supposed to protect our health instead defend the manufacturer and spin the information so much they are confusing.   They even make laws to stop anyone from saying that to eat certain whole foods might prevent or cure you of many diseases, even though it is true.

I have been involved with naturopathic medicine and nutrition for over 20 years and I find it difficult to find whole foods that are truly nutritional in any market or restaurant.   The odds are stacked against you having any better luck than I do.   So I supplement to make sure that I keep a balance of B vitamins and minerals beyond what I eat and I suggest you do the same thing.   Why allow yourself and your family to be caught up in the same health crisis you see everywhere today.

Important Note: Basic law of nature and another scientific fact (see article, “The Truth About Vitamins”), if your B Stress formula is not from food you cannot absorb it!   It is a big basic law of nature; we depend on plants for our nutrition.   If your vitamin supplement does not say the words somewhere on the label “Whole Food Vitamins”, “Made From Whole Foods” or “Food Vitamins”.   Do not waste your money on it because it is synthetic and you cannot absorb it.

Below Are What Your Stress B Vitamin Supplement Should Contain In A Whole Food Form.   Plus, The Problems A Deficiency Of Each Vitamin And Mineral Can Cause.

Vitamin A
Essential, either directly or indirectly, for the proper functioning of most organs of the body” and may prevent stress-induced immunological disorders.

Vitamin C
If, you are not getting enough vitamin C you may be tired, you may bruise easily, and you may just feel generally ill.

Thiamin B-1
Thiamin supplements have been shown to improve mood and mental function and to relieve stress and muscle tension.

Riboflavin B-2
People today have an increased need for Vitamin B-2 (Riboflavin) in stressful situations and it is the most common of vitamin deficiencies.   Highly beneficial, for anxiety, stress, and fatigue.

Niacinamide B-3 (called the happy vitamin)
A, deficiency of this vitamin can cause depression.   Left untreated, it can lead to psychosis and dementia.   Symptoms of a deficiency include agitation, anxiety, and mental lethargy.

Vitamin B-6
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) levels are typically quite low in depressed patients, especially women taking birth-control pills or other forms of estrogens.

Folate
Depression is the most common symptom of a folic acid deficiency.   Other symptoms of folic acid deficiency are: fatigue, apathy, and dementia.

B-12
Recent studies have shown that there is a definite benefit to be gained by giving vitamin B12 to patients suffering from depression, fatigue and mental illnesses of other kinds. Even a slight deficiency of B12 is found to produce marked symptoms.

Pantothenate
Low levels can lead to sleep disturbances headaches, gastrointestinal distress and fatigue.

Biotin
Necessary for cell growth, the production of fatty acids and the metabolism of fats and amino acids.   It plays a role in the Citric acid cycle, which is the process by which biochemical energy is generated.

Magnesium
Dr. Bernard Jensen wrote, “Magnesia, an inorganic substance,…is actually a combination of oxygen and magnesium….Man must have the biochemic (organic) form—food magnesium—rather than the inorganic form…The patient who is highly nervous, excitable, overly emotional and erratic in actions needs magnesium as a sedative”.

Zinc
A deficiency of zinc will depress the immune system and leave you at higher risk of infection.

Potassium
Deficiencies of potassium can lead to behavioral disturbances

Choline
The supplement is touted as beneficial for mood, mental acuity and heart health.

Inositol
Studies have found that it also may help patients who suffer from depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

PABA
Deficiency symptoms include fatigue, irritability, depression, nervousness, headache, constipation, and other digestive disorders.

Example Of A Nutritional Herbal Formula For Stress, Insomnia, Restlessness, And Anxiety.   Also Helps Maintain Your Nutritional Support System, Can Be Taken With B Stress Supplements.

In wild crafted or organic form this herbal formula is nourishing, tranquilizing and anti-spasmodic in action.   It is designed to encourage composure while reducing anxiety, tension and stress.   It is intended to help calm down, rest, relax, sedate and relieve nervous tension and muscle spasm.   Listed below are each of the herbs and their benefits and safety.

Important Note: If your herbal supplement does not say that it is organic or wild crafted then it could be grown anywhere under less then healthy conditions.   This is one area where the government rigorously enforces the law and so does the herbal industry.

The information given here is based on thousands of years of traditional safe use.

Black Cohosh root
Used as a tonic for the central nervous system and is regarded as a nervine.   It is an excellent, safe sedative for nervous disorders, and is put in many nerve combinations.

Valerian root
Used for over a 1000 years to calm all kinds of nervous disorders.   In centuries past it was taken as often as coffee in Europe.   Called “Nature’s Tranquilizer”; because it calms the nerves without the side effects of comparable orthodox drugs. 

Blue Cohosh root
Blue Cohosh may be used in cases where an anti-spasmodic is called for and it can also calm frazzled nerves and relieve anxiety.  

Wild Yam root
Wild yam acts as a sedative on the nerves governing muscles which relax the stomach walls and abdominal area.   Wild yam is very relaxing and soothing to the nerves of people who suffer from anxiety.

Hops flower
Am excellent nerve tonic that is fast acting where insomnia and nightmares are a problem.   Hops are an excellent food source of B 3 known as the happy vitamin.

Passion Flower herb
Used to soothe the nervous system without the side effects of depression or disorientation.   Encourages deep restful sleep without morning hangover effects. 

Skullcap herb
Relaxes nervous tension, induces calm and counteracts sleeplessness.   Has shown itself to be excellent for breaking addictions and easing problems associated with drug withdrawal.

Lobelia herb & seed
Known, to be a power ful physical relaxant, affecting the nervous system.   It is considered one of the strongest and safest relaxants in the herbal kingdom.

Chamomile flower
Is best known as a soothing digestive tonic which is sedative in nature and used for calming the nerves and inducing sleep.

Wood Betony herb
Is calming to the nerves, sooths tension, tones stomach and a remedy for chronic headaches.

Suggested Guidelines: Not recommended if pregnant, nursing, or if currently taking prescription or over the counter medications.   Consult with a qualified healthcare professional if condition persists or increases.

More Insomnia Stress Articles

Everyone maybe aware that stress is one of the major causes of insomnia. Having difficulty to sleep is among the many effects of stress in an individual but the lack of sleep can impact you greatly because it can affect your daily routines, moods and worse, it can make you look old. Simply put, stress gets you insomniac and the condition differs depending on the degree of the stress. That is why someone who has insomnia really makes effort to determine the most effective insomnia stress relief.

Stress can be short term or long term. All people happen to experience short term stress in some instances however, some of these short term stresses can be considered healthy.

Positive Stressors

· Excitement felt for a coming event like birthday, reunion or a job interview.

· An impending job promotion or salary increase or maybe an award.

· Anticipation of seeing or meeting a beloved or your favorites like your favorite celebrities or individuals, the people you look up to and idolized – your inspirations

· Going on a great vacation or travel abroad.

Negative Stressors

- A Loss. It could either be losing someone dear, a person or a pet or a treasured thing. Losing as in bankruptcy is also a major negative stressor.

- Problems are also negative stressors and it can be a personal problem involving only yourself or a family problem. Problem with peers and friends is also one stressor.

- Existing medical condition or disease. Even how small or minor the condition is the fact that it affects your health, in part or a whole is a stressor. Parents are stressed when kids get sick or the partner is diagnosed with some illness.

The list could go on and for sure you can still think of additional stressors to include here, but the list is just presented not for you to avoid but for you to be aware of. Well, thinking of ways to avoid these stressors maybe a stress in itself that can bring insomnia.

The key here is not avoiding stressors, it is handing stressors effectively whether it is positive or a negative one. Of course, major stressors like a losing one family member could be a very difficult situation and can render you sleepless nights but there are ways to handle if effectively.

Stress Handling the Natural Way

Heard about knowing the cause of your problem or stress is half of the solution already or every problem has a solution? These principles are part of what many call positive thinking, one of the insomnia stress relief that you can employ. Coupled with relaxation techniques and good diet, you maybe surprised to find yourself sleeping soundly at night.

It can’t be avoided to think about sleeping pills as insomnia stress relief but with the many unsuccessful stories of using these anti-insomnia medications it would be better to explore on the natural ways to get some sleep. Stressors come more from the environment, so the solutions can sometimes be on altering the environment. Visualization technique is imaging that you are in an environment that you prefer in order to relax and sleep. Scenting is another technique used using the environment to promote sleep.

Related Articles:

Top Rated Insomnia Products

Other Insomnia Treatments