Remedies for sleep problems
Submitted by bluestreak on Sun, 09/09/2007 - 10:02pmSince I've been having insomnia problems myself since last November, I thought it would be a good idea to find some links to sites with helpful information on ways to get to sleep.
Melatonin is one natural treatment that looks promising for the type of insomnia I have (delayed sleep phase syndrome). However, it's not recommended for people who take anti-seizure medication.
Valerian seems pretty benign, although it hasn't been tested thoroughly. I've found it works very well for anxiety.
Chamomile is another popular herb for insomnia. It may cause allergic reactions in people who are responsive to ragweed.
Calcium and magnesium are recommended for sleep by holistic health sites more than by mainstream ones - at least, that's what a quick Google search showed. The recommended ratio is 1,000 mg magnesium: 2,000 mg calcium.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is also useful for insomnia. Therapists practicing CBT try to change people's attitude about sleep. I read through a description of the technique, and, frankly, it doesn't sound like something I would want to do.
Some sites recommend 5-HTP for sleep regulation. However, since 5-HTP affects serotonin, it acts as an antidepressant- something to keep in mind.
Techniques such as progressive muscle relaxation can also help one calm down before sleep. So can lifestyle changes.
Chamomile and other herbs are also used in aromatherapy.
A number of the sites I visited said that it was important to identify the cause of the insomnia before treating it. My insomnia is due to my being anxious in the evening, and having difficulty unwinding at the end of the day. So I think I should probably focus on reducing the stress in my life and relaxing. Valerian might help, too, but I don't want to use it every day.
sleeping
like many other people on this site, i too have had a history of sleep difficulty. many people suggest that if you are having difficulty sleeping to just get out of bed and read or watch part of a movie etc. I have found that this tends to intensify my mania, because generally I will gravitate toward my journal and write until the sun comes up. not good. so I wanted to share a couple of methods that have helped pull me out of periods of insomnia:
- tell myself, "you don't need to do anything right now. you don't even need to sleep, you get to just lay here and enjoy the coziness of your bed."
- i completely disagree with the advice to get up and do something else if you can't sleep. i find that even if i don't sleep, giving my mind at least 4-6 hours of complete darkness per night helps me to come back into a more balanced state of mind.
- don't look at the clock.
- try to frame your wakeful time in bed in terms of an intense yoga session in which you have to discipline yourself to stay in shivasana (corpse pose) and focus on your breath from at least midnight until you see the light of dawn creeping through the window.
-herbal remedies listed elsewhere on the site work well.
-prayer.
i hope that this helps someone. sleeplessness does not last forever and balance can be found. We have a gift that is like electricity - it can kill us, but if we learn how to harness it, we can create light.
love,
peace