Insomnia– the inability to sleep.
Experts don’t have a clear picture of why insomnia happens. There is a lengthy list of possible reasons, but they basically boil down to psychological reasons. Simply put; it’s all in your head, so good luck.
Well, that explanation doesn’t help me fall asleep.
There are ways to prepare for a restful night of sleep. Healthy eating habits are always beneficial in overall health. Exhaustion may not be the best solution, but after a night of insomnia, staying up later than usual ought to help.
Environment matters. Not everyone has an opportunity to enjoy some important aspects of a restful night such as a safe bed and a peaceful quiet. Changing one’s environment can be difficult, sometimes too difficult to achieve. Insomnia can thrive in those situations. If you need help, then ask.
For the many insomniacs who can make a few changes to their sleep habits, diet, and environment, time to buck up, you can do it.
The biggest problem with insomnia is it is tough to combat when it strikes, and there really isn’t anything other than a sleeping drug to take. Prescription drugs can knock you out and create a dependency. Avoid them. Melatonin, available at the grocery store, won’t put you to sleep once the insomnia hits. Specific preparation usually comes after a night of insomnia. So what does one do when they can’t fall asleep?
I suppose everyone has their remedy for this. Reading can be tough during insomnia. Glancing over words and reading a book are two different things when you’re zombie-like from insomnia. I’ve turned pages and had no idea the next morning what I’ve read. I don’t recommend reading. And forget about the phone. The glow and constant strolling are obviously only going to keep you up, so look elsewhere.
TV can be a friend at this time. There is so much content available on streaming services that no one, no matter how heavy the insomnia is, could watch everything. Watch an old movie. Nothing loud, so no war films. Nothing too difficult to follow, so no mysteries. Documentaries are good and comedies are probably better. At the very least, a documentary could teach you something or it may bore you to sleep and a comedy could put you in a good mood. If we can’t sleep, we might as well be happy about it.
Edward R. Murrow’s famous sign-off sounds different when battling insomnia. “Good night, and good luck.” Thanks, Ed. I’ll try to get some sleep.