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Understanding Insomnia - Simple Steps to a Successful Cure
It is clear in my conversations with insomniacs, that they prefer just about ANYTHING, and will try just about anything, before they resort to sleeping pills. I don't think they are particularly contrary to the normal population, so I must conclude from their statements, that almost everybody would prefer an alternative route to a more normal sleep pattern, than that afforded by knock out pills. Is that also true of you?
Despite much new research coming out on sleep, these new 'facts' only seem to serve the original hypothesis that you only need as much sleep as you need. That sounds a bit odd, but we've all been brought up to believe that we all need 8hrs sleep a night, or there's something wrong with you. People who sleep less will die young, while those who sleep in all day are wasting their life and will get cancer or some other wasting disease.
Contrary to popular belief the latest evidence seems to show that people who only sleep 7hrs live the longest, and that the side effects of sleeping pills generally outweigh the benefits. Despite all this the amount of money spent on advertising sleeping pills always slants the volume of sales in their favour, despite the fact that repeated tests show many other modalities are more effective in the long run.
Insomnia is not a disease, but rather a symptom.
Insomnia, or sleeplessness, is finding difficulty in getting to sleep,, or staying asleep for long enough to feel refreshed and energized the next morning, despite your having had enough opportunity to sleep during the night.
Insomnia is typically followed by functional impairment while awake due to sleep of poor quality during the night, or nights, before. Insomnia can occur at any age, but it is particularly common in the elderly. It can be particularly serious in children, as it can affect their health and education, and other young people who are trying to establish themselves in the workplace, or set up home with a partner, or even when starting a family.
Insomnia can be short term (up to three weeks) or long term (above 3–4 weeks), which can lead to memory problems, depression, irritability and an increased risk of heart disease and vehicle accidents.
Insomnia classification
Insomnia can be grouped into primary and secondary, or comorbid, insomnia.
Primary insomnia is a sleep disorder not attributable to a medical, psychiatric, or environmental cause, and is described as a complaint of prolonged sleep onset latency, disturbance of sleep maintenance, or the experience of non-refreshing sleep. Secondary insomnia is insomnia caused by another condition or action. And, comorbid insomnia is insomnia that is present alongside one or more other conditions.
Types of insomnia
Insomnia can be classified as transient, acute, or chronic.
1.Transient insomnia lasts for less than a week. It can be caused by another disorder, by changes in the sleep environment, by the timing of sleep, severe depression, or by stress. Its consequences – sleepiness and impaired psychomotor performance – are similar to those of sleep deprivation.
2.Acute insomnia is the inability to consistently sleep well for a period of less than a month. Insomnia is present when there is difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep or when the sleep that is obtained is non-refreshing or of poor quality. These problems occur despite adequate opportunity and circumstances for sleep and they must result in problems with daytime function. Acute insomnia is also known as short term insomnia or stress related insomnia.
3.Chronic insomnia lasts for longer than a month. It can be caused by another disorder, or it can be a primary disorder. People with high levels of stress hormones or shifts in the levels of cytokines are more likely to have chronic insomnia. Its effects can vary according to its causes. They might include muscular fatigue, hallucinations, and/or mental fatigue. Chronic insomnia can cause double vision.
What causes insomnia?
Most people will experience problems sleeping at some point in their life. Stress and anxiety are common causes of insomnia, but it can also be caused by conditions such as depression, schizophrenia or asthma, some medications, and alcohol or drug misuse. Many people are sensitive to the words and actions of other people and can worry about what others think of them. Emotional issues are a primary cause and such things as abuse, abandonment, grief, shame, guilt, fear and many others are all strong emotions that can keep us trapped in the cycle of insomnia.
When should I see my GP? See your GP if you're finding it difficult to get to sleep or to stay asleep, and it's affecting your daily life.
Your GP may suggest that you keep a sleep diary such as the one on the self-assessment page. This will help them and you to gain a better understanding of your sleep patterns. It can also help to decide which method of treatment to use. It may help if you filled it in for the few days (or weeks) between making, and going for your appointment. They may also ask you about your sleeping routines, your daily alcohol and caffeine consumption, and your general lifestyle habits, such as diet and exercise, so have these answers ready or in mind.
Your GP will probably discuss things you can do at home first which may help to improve your sleep. Many of these ideas are detailed here on other pages of this site. In some cases, cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) may be recommended, which can help you avoid the thoughts and behaviours affecting your sleep. Sleeping tablets are a treatment of last resort and are often only used in the short-term with the smallest possible dose. Although they can sometimes relieve the symptoms of insomnia, they don't treat the cause. If you have long-term insomnia, it's unlikely that sleeping tablets will help.
Once in motion, the NHS solution can still be a long time in delivery, with no guarantee of success. The truth is, you could be waiting for months for anything to happen, and still you may be encouraged to gravitate toward sleeping tablets in the short term. So why not give the Sleep Soundly Now! CD or mp3 a try in the meantime? This you can have immediately in the case of the mp3, and the CD within a couple of days.
Wouldn't it be amazing if you could take your CD to the doctors surgery with you and tell him you're already cured! Perhaps you could give your GP the Sleep Soundly Now! web address, or lend them your copy of the CD, so they have somewhere to send their patients to find an alternative solution that works.
Good luck and thank you, Phil.
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