Mental Health 101: Insomnia

Have you ever had trouble falling asleep and staying asleep?

Everyone has had some sleep trouble in some point in their lives for many reasons:  stress, excitement, anxiety...the list goes on and on...

There are three kinds of insomnia: initial, middle, and terminal. Initial insomnia is having difficulty falling asleep. Middle insomnia is constantly waking up throughout the night. Terminal insommia is waking up early and not able to fall asleep again.

There are many things you can do on your own to alleviate insomnia.

• Maintain a regular sleep schedule.
• Avoid naps.
• Use your bed for sleep only.
• Relax or unwind for an hour before going to bed.
• Try not to go to bed hungry.
• Exercise helps alleviate insomnia.
• Take a warm bath before bed.
• Make a "to-do" list of what you need to do the next day to reduce stress.
• Adjust the room temperature, lighting, and noise before going to bed.

If you cannot fall asleep, get out of the bed and go elsewhere in your home until you feel sleepy again.

In some cases, medications such as Lunesta can help with insomnia for a short period of time. A professional can assist in sleep problems as well.

To learn more about insomnia, check out these sites.

insomnia.supportgroups.com
http://www.insomnialand.com/

Take care,
-Kimmy