Roohealthcare.com – Insomnia, the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep, is a common condition that can affect your quality of life. There are many ways to treat insomnia, but you should talk to a healthcare provider to determine what’s causing your sleep problems.
Learning Better Sleep Habits
Insomnia is often tied to underlying physical or mental issues that can be treated through behavioral therapy. This type of treatment can help you learn better sleep habits and change how you think about sleep.
Many people with insomnia have underlying medical or mental health conditions that also contribute to their sleep issues. This can include physical health problems like chronic pain or a digestive disorder, as well as psychiatric disorders like anxiety and depression. Some people may experience insomnia due to the stress they are experiencing in their lives, such as losing a loved one or struggling with a relationship. They can use a technique called constructive worry exercise to reduce the negative thoughts that keep them up at night.
Insomnia can also be triggered by medications or other mental health treatments, such as antidepressants. These can help treat mental health conditions but can often make sleep issues worse or prevent them from improving. For the most part, treating the underlying issues that cause insomnia will help you get better sleep. However, if the underlying problem is severe or persistent, then it’s best to see a doctor.
Keep up Routine Throughout the Day
If you’re having trouble falling asleep, it may be time to start changing your daily habits. This includes things like your sleeping schedule, what you eat or drink, and your exercise routine. If possible, aim to stick to a routine all day long, including eating meals at regular times and going to bed at consistent hours. This will help you develop good sleep hygiene habits, says Dr. David Breus, author of “Sleep Well.”
Having a dark, quiet bedroom that’s cool and comfortable can help you fall asleep more easily. You should also avoid eating or using electronics – laptops, smartphones, and tablets – in your room. If you’re waking up in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep, try taking a short nap. Naps in the afternoon pay off your “sleep debt,” so you won’t be as tired at night.
If you can’t get a good night’s sleep or wake up frequently throughout the night, it’s time to see a doctor. Fortunately, insomnia is often treatable with simple methods like changing your daily habits and changing your medications, as long as it’s not caused by a health condition or other mental disorder. But if these remedies don’t work, your doctor may refer you to a specialist in the field of sleep medicine. They’ll ask you more questions about your symptoms before providing a diagnosis and treatment recommendations.
The Right Medical Solution to Consult
You can also seek a consultation with a psychologist or psychiatrist. These professionals help patients cope with the emotions and ideas that contribute to insomnia. A psychiatrist can prescribe medications while a psychologist can only offer counseling and behavioral therapy. However, if your sleep problems are linked to a mental disorder such as depression or anxiety, a psychiatrist may be the right medical professional to consult.
Treatment for insomnia varies based on what’s causing the sleep problem. Sometimes, nondrug treatments or behavioral changes can help. Other times, medications are necessary for long-term treatment. These include benzodiazepines and antidepressants. BZDs: These drugs are a type of sedative-hypnotic (meaning they make you sleepy) and have the potential to be addictive. The DEA considers BZDs, like Restoril and Ambien, to be Schedule IV controlled substances.
Z Drugs: These are also sedative-hypnotics, but they have less of the abuse and dependence potential than BZDs. They include the medication ramelteon, which acts as a melatonin receptor agonist. Trazodone: Doctors often prescribe this medication to treat depression but it can also relieve insomnia when taken at low doses. The most effective medications for treating insomnia are those that reduce anxiety or enhance the activity of GABA-A receptors in your brain. Other medications may help you fall asleep, such as a melatonin agonist or a tricyclic antidepressant.
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