This article is written with the understanding that the reader does not have a serious medical condition that is preventing them from falling asleep or staying asleep. If the reader has a persistent medical condition that inhibits their sleeping ability, they are advised to seek information from their medical provider.
Before we go into how to naturally treat and prevent insomnia, let us first talk about what insomnia is and break down 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 is it 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 several different types of insomnia.
Transient Insomnia is characterized by having insomnia for a short period of time.
Intermittent Insomnia which is bouts 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 common causes of insomnia are stress,  anxiety, advanced age (people over the age of 60), gender (specifically females), depression, and various enviormental 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 a restless night. Excessive 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 with various natural techniques. I will list some of the natural remedies you can do to help you resolve your insomnia and obtain a good night of sleep.
The first line of defense is prevention. Think of what could possibly be causing your insomnia. Did you pull a few all nighters to get a project done at work? If so, maybe your body’s biological clock needs to reset itself. This may just take time to let nature run its course. If your restlessness is due to stress, find ways to reduce the stress. This may not always be possible. If you can remove yourself from a stressful situation, you should. Otherwise, practicing some breathing exercises or meditation before bed may help.
Sleep restriction is another natural way to reduce your chances of having a sleepless night. 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. Also, you can restrict your fluid and food intake 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.
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 organ, 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.
Sweet Dreams
