Trouble sleeping? Well same here. For the past few nights I’ve trouble going back to sleep after doing my nocturnal routine trip to the bathroom. My mind is just racing with thoughts. Counting sheep doesn’t help at all. Is this insomnia?

According to the medical background of insomnia, I have what the doctors call an acute primary insomnia. Insomnia are 2 types: acute – meaning short-term inability to sleep properly; chronic – is insomnia that lasts for years; primary – insomnia is caused by other than a health condition; secondary – insomnia is caused by a health condition, pain, medication or drugs. So I diagnose myself: that hopefully this is just a short-term insomnia (acute) and as I’ve known myself I’m always healthy, I don’t drink, or take any medication (primary).

I’m very particular when I go to sleep – totally no lights and total silence. I can’t stand even the whirring of the fan or the flutter of the blinds. Everytime I go to sleep these factors are absent. So why am I having insomnia? Well further research led me to causes of this problem: stress, emotional/physical discomfort, interferences in normal sleep schedule eg. jet lag, medication, depression/anxiety, hormones especially estrogen, and underlying medical condition.

When I’ve changed my work schedule from 830am to 8am, my sleeping habit changed. By 930pm or 10pm I should be asleep already because lack of sleep can give me moderate to severe daytime allergy the following day causing me a poor work performance. Hence that somewhat thrown my circadian rhytym mildly out of balance. But my body has adjusted already. Another theory would be PMS-ing? hmmm could be? My hormones can be playing tricks with my body. Work has also been slightly stressful and with my upcoming trip back to the Philippines, I’m under a lot of worries and anxiety – so these could contribute to my insomnia. And this I think is the major factor to my insomnia which is my lumpy sofa bed. I just can’t get comfortable. I always sleep straight but with my bed right now, my back just sagged because the bed is so uncomfortably lumpy. I keep on tossing and turning in the middle of the night. Another theory albeit mythical one, someone keeps on thinking about me. Seriously that person should stop because I need my beauty rest!

So here are suggestions to cure sleeping troubles (www.webmd.com):

  • Try to go to sleep at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning. Try not to take naps during the day because naps may make you less sleepy at night.
  • Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol late in the day. Caffeine and nicotine are stimulants and can keep you from falling asleep. Alcohol can cause waking in the night and interferes with sleep quality.
  • Get regular exercise. Try not to exercise close to bedtime because it may stimulate you and make it hard to fall asleep. Experts suggest not exercising for at least three to four hours before the time you go to sleep.
  • Don’t eat a heavy meal late in the day. A light snack before bedtime, however, may help you sleep.
  • Make your bedroom comfortable. Be sure that it is dark, quiet, and not too warm or too cold. If light is a problem, try a sleeping mask. If noise is a problem, try earplugs, a fan, or a “white noise” machine to cover up the sounds.
  • Follow a routine to help you relax before sleep. Read a book, listen to music, or take a bath.
  • Avoid using your bed for anything other than sleep or sex.
  • If you can’t fall asleep and don’t feel drowsy, get up and read or do something that is not overly stimulating until you feel sleepy.
  • If you find yourself lying awake worrying about things, try making a to-do list before you go to bed. This may help you to not focus on those worries overnight.

**** I would like to add few of my self-remedies: Try taking Flaxseed oil capsule. It does wonders to your body. It is a very healthy supplement and for me and many others who tried it claimed that it gives us a good night sleep. Rarely when my insomnia is really bad, I take over-the-counter medication which makes you drowsy like the allergy meds (such as Nightquil or Benadryl HC or Decolgen Drowsy). And then my most EFFECTIVE instant solution to sleeping trouble is……WARM MILK!!! I’ve tried this every time I’ve given up trying to go back to sleep in the middle of the night. It really works!!!!

so….Got milk? :)

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