Insomnia: Natural Ways to Prevent and Treat Insomnia

Before we discuss the natural ways to treat and prevent insomnia, lets first learn what insomnia is and go through the different types of insomnia.

Insomnia, by definition, is the feeling of receiving inadequate and restless sleep. The amount of sleep a person gets, whether it be one hour or 4 hours can still be considered insomnia. Insomnia is characterized by difficulty falling asleep; waking up during the night with difficulty returning to sleep; waking up earlier than intended; or general lack sleep.

There are three types of insomnia.

Transient Insomnia is experiencing insomnia for a short period of time.

Intermittent Insomnia which is episodes of restless nights off and on over a period of time.

Chronic Insomnia is when you have insomnia for an extended period of time.

Some main causes of insomnia are stress, anxiety, advanced age (people over the age of 60), gender (specifically females), depression, and various environmental factors and medical conditions.

Other causes are: if you 'believe' you aren't going to be able to fall asleep. Having the preconceived notion that you won't get a restful sleep can cause you to have insomnia. Use of caffeine, nicotine, and certain medications can also cause insomnia.

Your doctor can guide you on what types of prescription medications to use if necessary as well as provide you with various natural techniques. I will list some of the natural remedies you can try to help resolve your insomnia and obtain a good night of sleep.

Prevention is the first line of defense. What could possibly be causing your insomnia? Did you stay up all weekend in order to finish a project for work? If so, maybe your body's biological clock needs to reset itself.This will usually require just letting nature run its course. If your restlessness is due to stress, find ways to reduce the stress. This is not always be possible. If you can remove yourself from a stressful situation, you should. Practicing some breathing exercises or meditation before bed may help.

Sleep restriction is another natural way to reduce your chances of having insomnia. Do you find yourself not able to sleep at night, but aching to take a nap during the day or after work? If so, fight those urges during the day. Do not take a nap after work or indulge in a quick power nap. Try that out for a day or so and see if you can reset your body's biological clock.

Exercise. Do a few reps of low impact cardio a few hours before bed.

Restrict intake of fluid and food a few hours before bed.

If you believe medications are the culprit, talk to your doctor about your suspicions. Possibly he can reduce your dosage or prescribe you a different medication. Do not stop taking or change your medication. Talk to your doctor or medical professional about your concerns. Allow him to make necessary adjustments to your prescription.

Remember, your body and brain needs sleep to function properly. Most everybody has a few nights of restlessness over their lifetime. But, to deal with it on a chronic basis is unhealthy. Your brain, internal organs, and psyche need rest. Your body does all sorts of things while you still to get you refueled to take on the next day.

Talk to your doctor, try prevention, and test out some natural ways to reduce the chances of having insomnia. If prevention and natural remedies do not work, discuss with your doctor other treatment options. Always research the risk versus benefit of taking prescription medications.