What causes Insomnia? Dream expert Craig Webb discusses insomnia. You walk into your room. You shut off the lights and crawl into bed. You want to sleep, but insomnia keeps you awake. And the harder you...
You walk into your room. You shut off the lights and crawl into bed. You want to sleep, but insomnia keeps you awake. And the harder you try, the more it grows in strength. Insomnia is a powerful game of the mind. Millions battle it every year. Dream analyst, researcher, and author Craig Webbs says it proves a formidable opponent- if you don't try to understand what causes insomnia.
"The most important thing is to develop a regular bedtime habit. Find a ritual that works for you. Probably the largest cause of insomnia in our culture is stress. It's pretty obvious, but we don't really do anything about it," Webb says.
Webb hits a target issue. According to WomensHealth.gov, there are more than 60 million people who have insomnia at least 3 nights a week for one month or longer. Doctors think people who suffer from insomnia may also suffer from depression, chronic stress, pain, and other issues. They realize the root of the problem could be linked to a certain life condition. Once insomnia is diagnosed, treatment begins.
You may not need treatment if you have short-term or acute insomnia. But if your insomnia doesn't allow you to do the things you normally do, because you are sleepy and tired, sleeping pills may be prescribed for a short period.
The American Insomnia Association says many times insomnia patients can be helped by getting educated about the disorder. Some people need more sleep than others. Not everyone will get the ideal eight hours of sleep a night. Counseling is a great treatment program for insomnia patients to break old sleeping habits. Webb says there's a variety of ways to help yourself sleep better.
"A simple way to do something about stress is just to focus on being present and staying grounded in the moment instead of thinking, worrying, or going through problems. The ways to do that are to take a bath, get a massage, go for a walk outdoors - anything that brings us into the present and gets us away from our thoughts, "Webb says.
Insomnia can alter your life. Doctor's all agree exercise coupled with healthy eating can greatly reduce insomnia. If you've tried everything and you're still not seeing results, you may want to seek out a health care professional.
