How to Treat Insomnia

Getting a good night’s sleep is one of the most impactful steps you can take towards better health and wellness. With insomnia, however, your behavior may seem irrelevant. After all, why try to improve your sleep quality when sleep problems can keep you from getting any sleep at all? However, you can begin to treat and manage your insomnia symptoms, leaving insomnia behind come bedtime. Read on for some tips that may help with your insomnia symptoms.

Get Some Professional Insight

If you’re facing chronic insomnia or symptoms thereof, talk to your doctor about what type of insomnia treatment may be best for you in this particular case. They may order a sleep study, recommend behavior or lifestyle changes, ask you to keep a sleep diary, prescribe medication, or even suggest talking to a mental health professional. Whether they find that you have a diagnosable medical condition causing your insomnia or that outside factors are likely causing your symptoms, they’ll have the expertise necessary to ensure you’re getting the proper treatment from the start.

Practice Good Sleep Hygiene

To some degree, of course, hygiene can be taken in a literal sense here. Make sure your sheets are clean, your pajamas or other sorts of sleepwear are comfortable, and you have a safe, comfortable place to sleep. However, you’ll find other habits can also factor into the treatment of insomnia. Shop for comfortable sleepwear for women to increase your restfulness and invest in improved bedding or even a new mattress, if necessary. Implement healthy habits before bedtime, like sipping camomile tea, unwinding with a book, leaving your phone in another room, or just washing your face and brushing your teeth.

Factor In Psychological Elements

In many cases, insomnia may be caused, at least in part, by emotional stress or mental health conditions. For example, mental illnesses like post-traumatic stress disorder can manifest with nightmares and sleep disturbances. Through cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or similar processes, a therapist or other psychiatric professional may be able to help you conquer your insomnia, even if it’s not related to a direct physical cause.

Consider The Pros And Cons Of Medication

If your doctor, mental health professional, or someone else suggests trying over-the-counter or prescription medication to deal with your insomnia symptoms, be sure to consider both the benefits and risks of doing so. Even if you’re considering a natural supplement like melatonin to promote better sleep, you’ll want to ask your doctor about any risks or interactions you may face, especially if you’re taking another prescription medication. The same is true if your doctor recommends a prescription directly. This sleep medicine will often come with risk factors, like addiction, or serious potential side effects. However, if you and your doctor agree that a sleep aid could be beneficial, it’s certainly worth a try to promote better sleep.

Balance Your Coping Mechanisms

When dealing with insomnia, you will naturally gather some coping mechanisms and self-help methods on your own. For instance, you might find that exactly four cups of coffee a day keeps you at peak functionality, even when you’ve gotten little to no sleep. Conversely, you might find that a glass of warm milk (or plant-based alternative) helps you fall asleep and stay asleep at the end of the day. When using these remedies, be sure to strike a balance between those that keep you awake during the day and those that help you sleep at night. Without this careful consideration, you might find that your morning caffeine is impacting your sleep, or that your nightly routine makes it hard to get out of bed come daytime.

Insomnia can seem like a hopeless battle at times but, with the right guidance, tools, and insights, you can once again take control of your bedtime. With medication, cognitive behavioral therapy, or simple lifestyle style changes, you can decrease your sleep problems, increase your sleep quality, and finally drift off into sweet dreams.