Insomnia - How to Actually Get Some Sleep

Few people function well without the 8 or so hours sleep generally considered a normal nights rest. You hear stories of people managing extraordinary lives on only a couple of hours or people who have only slept 40 hours in the last few years, but these people are rare. And for anyone who needs their regular 8 hours or so, insomnia can be a waking nightmare.

What is insomnia?
Simply, it's not being able to sleep. When you go to bed, instead of falling asleep, you lay there staring at the ceiling, your head spinning. Insomnia can also take the form of waking up early and not being able to go back to sleep. You may get to bed easily at 10 p.m. but then wake up at 2 a.m. Either forms of insomnia can be destructive to your daily habits.

The knock-on effects of insomnia in the short term are (not surprisingly) linked with tiredness - irritability, impaired performance and sometimes poor co-ordination.

There are some general things that tend to make people more predisposed to bouts of insomnia. Getting older for example - a lot of people over 60 tend to , perhaps as a result of retirement and the change in circumstances that brings, but also the sleeping patterns of older people tend to change. This could be going to bed earlier and getting up earlier, as anyone who has an elderly relative living with them will know! Those who are generally more anxious, or who have suffered depression throughout their lives, tend to be prone to insomnia, as are those who are currently experiencing medical problems.

There are additional external factors that can cause insomnia. The list is long and includes noise, heat (no one gets a proper sleep on a summer night when the air conditioning is broken!), being in a new environment (first night in a new house, for example), certain types of prescription or OTC medication, and jet lag. The good news here is that most of these causes are only temporary and will soon diminish, letting you get back to your normal sleep habits.

Remember that what you do during the day can trigger inability to sleep at night. Drinking caffeinated drinks in the afternoon or evening certainly prevents a good night's rest. So does taking long naps during the day. Alcohol and cigarettes right before heading to bed are a no-no. And above all, try not to worry about how much sleep you are missing--this will only make it harder for you to fall asleep.