Insomnia is sometimes caused by other factors in your life. You should see your doctor about insomnia treatment and determine whether another condition such as depression, anxiety, pain, stress on the job or at home, the use of drugs or other medications, poor exercise habits or simply poor sleep habits is what is causing you to have insomnia.
Some medications will work for different people. Consult with your doctor before taking over the counter medications and, of course, prescribed medications. You may run the risk of becoming dependent on them and they also can cause dizziness, confusion and blurred vision. Prescription insomnia treatments can also suppress deep, or REM sleep. Ambien has been in the news with reports of people driving and eating while asleep. This is thought to be because people are either taking too much or not taking Ambien right before bedtime. Be certain to follow all instructions before taking sleep medications. Anna Nicole Smith and Heath Ledger's deaths were determined to be caused by combining insomnia, anxiety, depression, pain and cold medications.
Herbal supplements such as magnolia bark and valerian, on the other hand, have been shown to be safe and effective insomnia treatments. Magnolia bark's anxiety reducing effects let your mind relax so you will fall asleep and stay asleep. Clinical studies have shown Valerian to help people fall asleep quicker and improve sleep quality by reducing nighttime awakenings. Valerian has documented use during ancient Greek and Roman times and was used as an anti-anxiety treatment in England during World War II.
This insomnia treatment focuses on your sleep habits and how to create patterns that will allow you to sleep better. For instance, going to sleep at the same time each night and avoiding naps during the day. You also stop drinking caffeine at night as well as taking other stimulants. Learn about Sleep Hygiene vs. Prescription Sleep Aids.
Relaxation therapy helps people that go to bed with a thousand things on their mind, those of you who just can't stop thinking. Different muscle groups are tensed and relaxed and you also focus on things such as meditation, which can prevent you from thinking too much when you are supposed to be sleeping.
Cognitive behavioral therapy assists you in changing your beliefs about yourself and about sleep. It generates an inviting environment for sleep. Studies of cognitive-behavioral therapy's effect on people with insomnia have shown positive and lasting results in reducing interrupted sleep patterns.
With a little bit of luck your insomnia treatment may not have to be a major overhaul of your lifestyle but something as simple as taking an herbal insomnia treatment, changing your sleep environment, the time that you sleep, or what you consume before going to bed at night.