Treatment for insomnia

Treatment for insomnia not always successful and assumes to use of pharmaceutical drugs that lead to an addiction. Insomnia is a sleep disorder also known as Wakefulness or Dyssomnia which is an inability to sleep or to sleep for long enough to get a proper night’s rest. The main effect of insomnia is that you feel constantly tired, irritable, and may have poor concentration and coordination. Sleep is necessary to repair the body and provide mental and physical rest.

Insomnia or sleep disorder is a difficult condition. According to the report by the United States Department of Health and Human Services in the year 2007, approximately 64 million Americans regularly suffer from insomnia each year. This condition is more common among women than men. There are different types of insomnia, which will be discussed further.

In general, insomnia treatments are not necessary if the symptom manifests 1 or 2 times because temporary insomnia goes away when the underlying trigger is removed or corrected. However, most people seek medical insomnia treatments when their insomnia becomes chronic.

The main focus of insomnia treatments should be directed towards finding the cause. Once the cause is identified, it’s important to manage and control the underlying problem, since this alone will probably eliminate insomnia. Treating the symptoms of insomnia without addressing the main cause just won’t work. Most of the time, chronic insomnia can be cured if its medical or psychiatric causes are evaluated and insomnia treatments are implemented properly.

Listed below are different treatments for insomnia

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia

Cognitive-behavioral therapy can help you control or eliminate negative thoughts and actions that are keeping you awake and is generally recommended treatment for people with insomnia. In general, CBT is more effective than sleeping pills.

The cognitive part of CBT teaches you to recognize and change beliefs that affect your ability to sleep. It can help you control or eliminate negative thoughts and worries that are keeping you awake. It may also be eliminating the cycle that can arise when you worry so much about falling asleep that you cannot sleep.

Over-the-counter sleep aids

Nonprescription sleep medications contain antihistamines that can make you drowsy, but they’re not intended for regular use. Talk to your doctor before you take these, as antihistamines may cause side effects, such as daytime sleepiness, dizziness, confusion, cognitive decline, and difficulty urinating, which may be worse in older adults.

Medications

Before taking any medication, you should seek a doctor’s professional help. Not only to get the prescription but also for proper assessment of your problem. Further, it is recommended that you resort to medicines to treat your sleeping problem when and only when it becomes chronic and it does not respond to the first two approaches of insomnia treatments.

It is emphasized that medications should be the last resort because aside from the dangers of side effects of sleeping pills, developing a dependence on them is also a major concern. Decreased blood pressure, nausea, and anxiety are some of the most common side effects of sleeping pills while withdrawal symptoms. Also, sleeping medicines’ affect a person’s perception and decisions whether short or long term so its use should be very well regulated and consulted always with the doctor

Facts about Insomnia

• Older individuals and women struggle with insomnia more often than young people and men. Other factors that make insomnia more likely are poverty, alcoholism, emotional or mental disorders, recent trauma, and severe stress.
• Insomnia typically starts once the death of a loved one, job loss, trouble at work, or some other stressful event. Over time insomnia becomes the main problem. Insomnia should be treated throughout the early, acute phase, otherwise, it can become chronic and more serious.
• Insomnia can indicate more serious problems like clinical depression, an anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress, addiction to caffeine, drug addiction, various sleep disorders, or a physical illness. For women, menopause or menstruation can be the cause.

Types of Insomnia

Transient Insomnia

Under this condition, the victim faces difficulty in falling asleep even after laying on the bed. Ideally, one should fall asleep within half an hour of going to bed. However, due to anxiety, stress, excessive thinking, and worrying, the person may not be able to fall asleep. It is also known as mild insomnia and lasts from days to weeks.

Acute insomnia

It is a type of insomnia where the victim is unable to sleep well for a period of three to four weeks. It is also known as short-term or moderate insomnia.

Chronic insomnia

This is a severe type of insomnia that lasts for years. The victim may become irritable and feel fatigued due to lack of rest. It is important to seek medical treatment for this kind of condition.

There are different patterns of insomnia like onset insomnia, middle of the night insomnia, and terminal insomnia. In the case of onset insomnia, the sufferer is unable to sleep at the beginning of the night. It is often associated with anxiety and stress. A worried mind creates many thoughts and cannot be at peace. Middle of the night insomnia is characterized by the inability to fall asleep after waking up in the middle of the night. Sometimes, the victim may wake up early in the morning and find it difficult to sleep again. Terminal sleep disorder is often a characteristic of clinical depression. The victim wakes up early in the morning and cannot fall asleep again.

Insomnia can have a serious impact on the victim’s overall health and well-being. The mental trauma that one experiences can lead to low confidence levels and lack of enthusiasm. Sufferers do not feel energetic or excited while performing daily tasks and activities. Work too seems like a burden. The consequences of this sleep disorder aren’t ordinary. This condition can lead to other diseases as well.

Insomnia symptoms

• Difficulty in sleeping or staying asleep
• Lack of concentration when awake
• Problem remembering things
• Poor coordination
• Trouble staying awake while driving.

Note: when people have these symptoms they sometimes make their insomnia worse by treating them with excessive amounts of caffeine, energy drinks, and stimulants.

Insomnia causes

Insomnia can be caused by a wide range of things. Typically they can be categorized into psychiatric, medical, or situational group factors. Some of the common causes of short term and transient insomnia include – work schedule changes, irritating noise, jet lag, stress, sleeping room temperature, medical problems, drug withdraws, altitude.

Chronic insomnia is usually related to a medical condition or psychiatric condition. Some psychiatric conditions that cause insomnia are stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Doctors use the symptom of insomnia in diagnoses of mental illness and depression. This does not mean that if you suffer from insomnia that you suffer from depression or a mental illness.

Several physical conditions can cause insomnia. These include – a disorder in the circadian rhythm, chronic pain, chronic fatigue, heart condition, angina, acid reflux, asthma, sleep apnea, Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease, and brain trauma. People who fall into the following categories are considered high risk for insomnia like travelers, people who change shifts often, senior adults, pregnant women, students, and women experiencing menopause.

Natural Treatment for insomnia

Natural treatments for insomnia is one of the most effective insomnia treatment with no side effects. People have realized that relying on sleeping pills is not a good long-term solution. Although insomnia can be caused for many reasons, natural treatments for insomnia can provide great relief to people suffering from this disease.

Listed below are Natural Treatment for insomnia

Home remedies for insomnia – most common natural treatment for insomnia

In recent times, this natural remedy for insomnia is gaining prominence because it has often proved to be quite helpful in curing insomnia. For insomnia treatment Home remedies for insomnia are safer because they have the least side effects and are inexpensive. Listed below are Home remedies for insomnia:

Mindful meditation

• The positive effects of mindfulness on well-being are well-documented and include reducing stress, boosting resilience, improving mood, and even enhancing immunity. However, mindfulness may also have an improving effect on sleep. Countless free and paid-for mindfulness apps, videos, and podcasts are available online. People wishing to try mindfulness may also prefer to do a course, join a local weekly class, or go on a retreat. They can also build this practice into physical exercises, such as yoga or tai chi.

Magnesium

• Magnesium is a mineral that the body produces. It helps muscles relax and reduces stress. Many experts think that it can also help to encourage a healthy sleep-wake cycle.

Progressive muscle relaxation

• Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), is a Home remedy for insomnia sometimes called Jacobson relaxation, is a technique that can help the whole body relax and promote feelings of sleepiness. It focuses on tightening and then relaxing the muscles in the body, one muscle at a time. People who find it hard to drop off at night may find that this helps them get to sleep.

Herbs for insomnia – effective natural treatment for insomnia

Herbs for insomnia are Natural remedies for insomnia and a much better alternative than taking drugs to induce sleep. There are several Herbs for insomnia that have been proven to help this condition without any adverse side effects.

Hops:

• These Herbs for insomnia is most effective for those who suffer only mild insomnia. It can be placed in a pillowcase or in a sachet under the pillow. A tea made from it can be taken 2-3 times a day.

Chamomile:

• This herb is especially mild and is safe to use for children as well as adults. A few drops of the oil can be put into the bathwater and drinking the tea 2-3 times a day can be effective.

Lavender:

Lavender is an effective herb for insomnia because of its relaxing qualities. Placing a few drops of oil in a warm bath can be very relaxing. It also helps to use a lotion scented with the herb or to place a sachet filled with it under your pillow at night.

Passion Flower:

• One of the top three herbs used for this purpose passionflower is effective for those suffering from mild insomnia and has been used for children as well as adults. It’s available in the form of a tincture or a tea in many health food stores.

Valerian:

• A tea made from the root of this plant can be very effective in the treatment of insomnia. Similar in effect to valium with none of the negative side effects, this herb for insomnia is a natural sedative. Prepared teas can be purchased at health food stores but be aware that the older the herb is the less effective it becomes.

Hypnosis for Insomnia – one of the best approaches to natural treatment for insomnia

Hypnosis for Insomnia is one of the natural remedies for insomnia that is very effective with no side effects. The purpose of Hypnosis for Insomnia is to provide subliminal messages into your subconscious mind. When your subconscious mind believes the message, it becomes fully relaxed, and it’s a lot faster for you to go to sleep.

There are two ways to do Hypnosis for Insomnia. One, you can look for a hypnotherapist, someone who is highly knowledgeable and experienced in Hypnosis for Insomnia. Second, you can do self-hypnosis.

There are plenty of tools you can use. There are subliminal messages videos and hypnosis CDs and mp3s. Normally, they come with rhythms, beats, and sounds that resemble the brain waves to activate the right parts of the brain that stimulate sleep. Know, though, that hypnosis effects may not be noticeable for a couple of days or weeks. It requires a certain level of skill. But as long as you practice it regularly, your body will begin to adapt.

Homeopathy for insomnia – #1 natural treatment for insomnia

Homeopathy for insomnia is also one of the natural treatments for insomnia that cures insomnia without resorting to dangerous chemical preparations.

Listed below are homeopathy remedy for insomnia

Hyoscyamus Niger

• This is one of the best Homeopathy for insomnia in hyperactive children who wake up fearful of fears or imaginary visions. You may wake up with seizures and there may be loud moans with sleep and teeth grinding. Eventually, they get drowsy and fall into a deep sleep.

Arsenicum album

• This Homeopathy for insomnia remedy is characterized by a night of very restless sleep with frightening dreams. In the evening there is a feeling of constant sleepiness with a lot of yawning, followed by insomnia with a lot of restlessness, gnashing of teeth, sloshing, and shaking of the limbs that are about to fall asleep. Sleep is not very refreshing and easy; Even the slightest noise can be heard and extreme temperature fluctuations can occur.

Papaver somniferum

• This remedy is very useful for insomnia caused by light noises when the bed is too hot and the limbs moan and shake while sleeping. There is great drowsiness when reading or concentrating, but it is impossible to fall asleep in bed.

Acupuncture for insomnia – popular natural treatment for insomnia

Acupuncture for insomnia – the most popular method of treatment for this medical disorder. Insomnia is a state, where a person has some difficulty to sleep. The severity of this state may vary from person to person depending on the level of stress and strain that they face in the day to day life. These people generally have difficulty in falling asleep, they wake up easily after falling asleep, or their sleep might be with nightmares, or they might have difficulty to sleep for one whole night or several nights.

If any one of the following things happens they may result in insomnia:

• Due to continuous work, the body might become busy, and it might produce stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol.
• People drink more tea or coffee in order to stay active, which in turn increases the caffeine content in the body and reduces sleep.
• Hungry people often experience insomnia because their body is busy trying to get some food from the internal storages.

Thinking of acupuncture for insomnia?

Many people around the world are now using natural ways to deal with health issues. The right amount of sleep is necessary for your mind and body to rejuvenate from a busy day. Without it, your health can suffer. Do you feel sluggish during the day, or wake up frequently during the night? You are probably not getting enough sleep. Try acupuncture for insomnia, it’s worked for thousands of people.
Although originating thousands of years ago in ancient China, acupuncture is today a well-known, effective, and proven healing modality that is practiced worldwide. Acupuncture therapy is administered through the insertion of hair-thin needles into very specific acupuncture points located all around the body. They discovered that a lack of balance between the energies in your body can have a harmful effect on your health and cause different medical disorders.

Treatment mechanism of acupuncture for insomnia

The points at which the needles are inserted situated on so-called meridians. The benefits are endless when these points are stimulated bringing changes in the body. Insomnia can be treated using acupuncture. Since in acupuncture for insomnia, we insert the needles directly into the nerves, the relief from stress and strain we get is more and one could realize that no other treatment can give such a relief of stress. The treatment of acupuncture for insomnia generally calms down the nerves; also, it greatly helps in reducing the blood pressure.

Points that are chosen for acupuncture for insomnia are situated mostly on a heart or pericardium meridians. Some of the acupuncturists believe that some of the points that calm the mind might also help the heart to pump more blood. Acupuncture for insomnia treatment can be given for all forms of insomnia; however, each form is treated by inserting needles in a different combination of points, usually called the protocol. We need to keep in mind that before starting acupuncture for insomnia treatment, we need to know what the reason that has caused insomnia is. This is essential because only then, we can determine which of the meridians are not working properly in order to stimulate or disperse them.

Acupuncture for insomnia can be a matter of bringing harmony to your Yin and Yang energy. While this appears unfamiliar or abnormal to some people, it is a part of life for the Chinese. They regard the time to begin calming yourself from the day is sunset. Yang or Day is moved into Yin or Night. Silencing your mind and priming your body for sleep should start at this time.

For most of us, it is not always possible to calm our minds and bodies at sunset, sometimes this is why we need to find our own best sleep aids. Trying acupuncture for insomnia might just be your best treatment choice.

Things to stay away from at the end of the day:

1. Heavy meals including sauces, alcohol, and caffeine
2. Anxiety-filled work using your mind such as doing your bills.
3. Rigorous exercises
4. Watching sports games on TV 

A few things to try:

1. Stretching
2. Meditation
3. Paying attention to your breathing
4. A warm bath (not hot)

When you know that you are not getting enough sleep do something to change it. Acupuncture for insomnia has been proven to work all around the world.

We all need help falling asleep occasionally. We usually don’t realize how much of life we are missing out on because we didn’t get a good night’s sleep. Acupuncture for insomnia may help you if you consistently awake groggy or angry. Maybe you can’t focus during the day or you feel out of sorts. It may just be that you need help falling asleep.

Contact Philadelphia Acupuncture Clinic and schedule an appointment for an initial FREE consultation to discuss with Dr. Tsan your best treatment options.