What is the Best Treatment for Insomnia

While insomnia can be caused by health problems, stress, anxiety, depression or other psychological problems, it is treated as a health problem in itself. You don't need to suffer from sleeplessness any longer. Find out what is the best treatment for insomnia and be on your way to a restful, full night's sleep again!

Insomnia Defined

Insomnia is understood to be the inability to fall asleep or sleep for long periods of time.  There are various stages of severity of insomnia. You have transient insomnia if you have trouble sleeping that stretches from days to weeks. It can be associated with a change in sleeping environment, by another health problem, timing of sleep, depression and stress. You have acute insomnia  if you are not able to sleep well for a time period that lasts longer than 3 weeks. If your insomnia lasts for longer than 6 months, then you are suffering from chronic insomnia. Chronic insomnia can last anywhere from 6 months to many years.

Insomnia Treated

The treatment for insomnia varies depending on the cause of your sleeplessness. If you suffer from acute or chronic insomnia you should always see a doctor, as a physician will be able to help you determine the cause of your sleeplessness and thus a solution to the cause will also help you sleep better. In the meantime, there are general things you can do to help you fall asleep and improve the quality of your sleep.

• Prepare your body for sleep.  Give your body the chance to be relaxed and in prime sleeping conditions. Don’t drink anything caffeinated at least 5 hours before you plan to go to bed at night, and don't do any exercise or strenuous activity at least 3 hours before bed. It may also help to do relaxation exercises right before bed. This may include breathing exercises, mediation or massage.

• Nourish your body for sleep. During the day you should make a point to incorporate foods rich in vitamin B, calcium, zinc, iron and copper into your diet.  These are essential for stimulating and regulating the chemicals in your brain that are necessary for sleep. If this is hard to do, take a multivitamin that can supply your body with these very needed vitamins and minerals.

• Follow a pre-sleep routine.  By doing the same thing before bed every night you train your brain to gear down for sleep.  Do the same things in the same order as you prepare for bed, and go to sleep at the same time every night.

• Create good sleep conditions. Reserve your bedroom for sleeping and sex. All other activities should be done in other areas of the house. This helps your brain to associate the bed with relaxation, pleasure, comfort and sleep. The room should stay between 65 and 70 degrees F, and it may also help to have a fan or humidifier to block out noises that may disturb your sleep.  Also, make sure the bedroom remains dark, even when it is sunny outside, with dark curtains and blinds.

• Take natural supplements. Melatonin is the chemical in your brain that causes you to feel sleepy, and you can actually take melatonin supplements before bed to make yourself feel tired. The velerian herb has also been proven as a safe way to improve sleep quality.

• Take pharmaceutical drugs. While pharmaceuticals should never be used on a long term basis to help you get to sleep, they are very effective in helping your body to fall asleep and get on a normal sleep pattern.  Sleeping pills, antidepressants and antihistamines work as sedatives, cause drowsiness and can be used to induce sleep.