Can't Sleep? Why Insomnia Shouldn't Be Ignored

It took me a few years to begin figuring it out, but after my wife had suffered so badly from insomnia and depression I do have a few recommendations. After a certain time in the evening turn off all the electronic devices and just relax. Get rid of all the noise and all the distractions, let your mind begin to unwind and be able to think conciously about the day.If you haven't exercised yet, do that too and ASAP. Just as you're not supposed to stop and just sit down right after sprinting, you shouldn't expect the same from yourself when going to sleep. Some can do it, but those people are usually already peaceful at mind.

There are two components about going to sleep, the physical state and the mental state.If both feel as they have been used in the day and are both ready for sleep, then going to sleep shouldn't be as much of a problem anymore. Not only that, after starting this I found that we began going to sleep much earlier and getting more sleep overall. We have a 7 month old little girl now that does wake us up at night, but we're not as badly worn down as some claim. Take 18 hours of classes a semester, work full time, and raise a family, sleep is important.

I'm no expert, but simplicity always seems the way to go.

Phillip of OK 7:06PM March 02, 2009

Most of those who have commented have probably not been there. I have. The sleep mouthpiece that I have been using for about 6 months made a significant difference in my sleep quality within the first 3 days of use. Some of the judgemental attitudes that were sneaking through in several comments are part of what has lead to the lack of people seeking additional treatments for the real problem and the lack of real solutions for people. If there is a suspicion that throat muscle tone is part of the problem, why has there been such a little amount of research done on how to strengthen those muscles. We do physical therapy for all kinds of muscle weakness. But, the Speach Pathology community is rarely if ever involved in research for this ailment.

J of KS 6:37PM March 02, 2009

INSOMNIA IN OLDER FOLKS MAY BE BIOLOGICAL. AS ONE AGES, ONE MUST STAY ALERT TO WARD OFF POSSIBLE DANGERS OF THE NIGHT! THE YOUNGER ANIMALS CAN REACT MORE QUICKLY AND ESCAPE THE DANGERS OF THE NIGHT.

SOME OF US CAN SLEEP DURING THE DAY AFTER STAYING UP ALERT MOST OF THE NGHT.

CONSIDER THE LIKELIHOOD THAT ALL THIS IS ANIMAL BEHAVIOR, LEFT OVER FROM OUR LONG LIFE IN THE JUNGLES.

CALL IT INSTINCTIVE IF YOU WILL.

SOME OF US GROW MORE ALERT AS NIGHT COMES ON, AFTER FALLING ASLEEP WATCHING TV. WE GO TO BED, HALF ASLEEP, AND START WAKING UP INSTANTLY - BECAUSE IT IS NIGHT.

THINK ABOUT IT.

H DUFF of CA 6:16PM March 02, 2009