Insomnia + Original Articles

This Practice Could Solve Your Insomnia

If you sleep very little at night and take long afternoon naps to try to compensate, a technique known as Sleep Restriction Therapy could be for you. If you've got insomnia, you've probably given in to the urge to take a daytime nap. The problem with allowing yourself a little afternoon snooze is that it perpetuates the cycle of difficult sleep. Getting just enough daytime to rest to take the edge off your exhaustion means you'll be less motivated to sleep at night.

Pen to Paper for Better Sleep

Here's an easy exercise to try if your brain keeps buzzing when you lie down to sleep at night. If you're like many people, you climb into bed at night with a brain that's still buzzing from all the worries of the day. Instead of relaxing and letting go, you stress over work projects that aren't finished, realize that you still haven't bought peanut butter for the kids' lunches, and wonder exactly what that weird noise is that your car is making.

Try Meditation for Better Sleep

Meditation can be done almost anywhere at any time, costs nothing, and could make a positive impact on your sleep. If you suffer from insomnia, you might consider meditation as a sleep aid. This ancient practice centers on clearing your mind of intrusive thoughts and attaining a deep state of relaxation and self-awareness. While meditation is not a scientifically proven way to get more sleep, studies do suggest that it helps.

Wide Awake in America

Insomnia affects more than 70 million Americans. Find out more about what's keeping you awake at night. "To sleep, perchance to dream." Shakespeare's famed words sound so tranquil, but if you've ever read Hamlet, you know the story's about to take a bad turn. For many Americans, sleep is also a maddening prospect representing hours of tossing and turning with little to show for it other than the eventual fatigue, irritability, and exhaustion.

The 10 Best Reasons to Quit Smoking

Many people successfully kick the habit, and you can too. Here, the top 10 benefits of smoke-free living. Although the health risks associated with smoking are irrefutable, many people have difficulty butting out. After all, nicotine is a powerful drug, and when smokers quit, they can experience withdrawal symptoms ranging from anger and irritability to headaches and insomnia.

Valerian for Sleep: Is It Right for You?

This supplement is a widely recommended alternative to prescription and over-the-counter sleep medications, but some studies show it's not effective. So should you try it? The flowering plant, valerian, contains various compounds that may help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. It's also used to treat anxiety and abdominal cramps. The most studied, most widely available, and seemingly most effective species of valerian is Valerian officinalis, which is native to northern European countries.

Does Hypnotherapy Work For Insomnia?

Hypnotherapy or hypnosis works by training your body to relax and your thoughts to focus. This deeply relaxed state can leave you open to changing your usual behavior. Touted by some as a cure for all kinds of medical and behavioral problems, hypnotherapy or hypnosis has the stamp of approval from both the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association as a valid medical procedure. The National Institutes of Health also approve it as a treatment for chronic pain.

How Depression Affects Your Sleep

Although a few short nights can make us cranky and irritable, generally our mood returns to normal once we've resumed our regular sleeping routine. For individuals who struggle with depression, however, insomnia can be a chronic problem. Although a few short nights can make us cranky and irritable, generally our mood returns to normal once we've resumed our regular sleeping routine. For individuals who struggle with depression, however, insomnia can be a chronic problem. The symptoms of depression and insomnia overlap and there's a direct relationship between the two.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Pain-Related Sleep Problems

Poor sleep and chronic pain often go hand-in-hand. While there are a variety of treatments to help you through the night, could Cognitive Behavioral Therapy be the best bet? Find out here. Poor sleep and chronic pain often go hand-in-hand.  Millions of patients who live with fibromyalgia, arthritis, migraines, and other painful conditions have trouble falling or staying asleep because of their symptoms. The more sleep they lose, the more stressed and exhausted they feel and the more pain they experience.

Could You Have Shift Work Disorder?

Shift work disrupts our internal clock, which tells us when to eat, sleep, and be active. Healthcare, transportation, manufacturing workers, and public servants play a critical role in our society, often working in the wee hours of the morning when the rest of us are sound asleep. Working nights, early mornings, or rotating shifts can affect workers' health.

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