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The Bath Body Terminal Posting Page
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Are you watching the sunrise when you’d far rather be sleeping? If you cannot fall, or stay asleep, you may be suffering from insomnia. If this is a recurring problem for you, it can become an unsettling and debilitating problem.

Sleeping tablets have their place but it should be remembered that these are a crutch only to be used for short periods. They are highly addictive. When addressing chronic insomnia, a holistic approach must be adopted.

Firstly, identify the cause of the insomnia. One of the leading causes of insomnia is underlying depression. See your doctor first to rule out medical conditions. If the doctor finds nothing, start analyzing your own attitude. Are you constantly telling yourself you are an insomniac?

Are you anxious about all the sleep you are missing? Perhaps you are just plain sick and tired of not sleeping. Stop right there. It took me months of tossing and turning to believe the doctor when she said that there was a mental aspect to insomnia.

I had been telling anyone who’d listen how I’d suddenly become wide-awake at bedtime and how I’d generate my best ideas then. I eventually realized that this was part of the problem. I realized that I’d talked myself into a sleeping disorder after having a few bad nights.

I also realized that missing a few hours a night was not necessarily a bad thing. I had read several books on insomnia and one challenged me to try to estimate how long I’d actually been aware. Turns out I was sleeping more than I believed. I dozed and woke several times.

I also found that one night I didn’t sleep at all and actually functioned fine the next day. The body is very resilient so do not become anxious about not sleeping – it is the surest way to stay awake.

Once you’ve got your mindset right, there are several natural ways of inducing sleep. Firstly, ensure the environment is conducive to sleep – not hot and stuffy but comfortable. The room should be completely dark. Try not to have LCD displays on in the bedroom – these disturb sleep. Make sure noise is kept to a minimum. If you live in a noisy area, consider buying a white noise generating machine. Try to ensure that your bedside lamps have low wattage bulbs.

Next, develop a sleep routine and stick to it every night. About an hour before bedtime, start switching bright lights off. This signals your body to start slowing down. Do not perform any stimulating activities now – this is not the time to read that bestseller or clean the house.

You might even switch off the TV. You could try some gentle, relaxing Yoga or meditation. Maybe listen to relaxing music. Wind down to bedtime. If you still find you cannot sleep there are two options – decide on the best for you. You could get up and leave the bedroom and do something else until you’re tired – personally, that doesn’t work for me – or, as Deepak Chopra suggests, you can just lie still in bed with your eyes closed. The key in the latter solution is not to care if you fall asleep or not.

Easier said than done but it can be achieved with practice and also by remembering that just by lying still, you are resting your body. If you find worries are keeping you awake, keep a notebook and pen next to the bed and write them down as they occur to you. Other lifestyle changes involve avoiding sugary foods and caffeine from the early afternoon onwards, not exercising late at night and not eating a heavy dinner. If none of this is helping, you could try drinking chamomile, lavender or lemon balm tea shortly before bedtime to help you relax.

Warm milk sweetened with honey may also help. Try having a non-protein, high carbohydrate snack. You could also try passionflower, valerian or skullcap teas but these are only to be used in the short-term. Another option is to use aromatherapy oils.

Having a warm bath with 2-3 drops of aromatherapy oil can be soothing. You can also use the oils in a burner. Good oils for insomnia include Chamomile, Lavender, Sandalwood and Ylang-Ylang, among others. You could mix the Chamomile, Lavender and Sandalwood oils or Chamomile, Lavender and Ylang-Ylang according to preference. You may also rub a few drops of neat Lavender oil into your temples. Do not use the other oils neat. Dilute them with carrier oil like sweet almond oil first.

If you have someone who’ll give you a massage with these carrier oil/essential oil blends, that’s even better. If you’re considering aromatherapy, it is a good idea to buy or borrow a book that lists qualities of oils and dangers associated with them. All the natural remedies listed above are safe if used correctly. As with all things, moderation is the key.

Just because it’s natural, doesn’t mean you can use it however you please. Excessive use or extremely high dosages can be toxic. Taking a warm bath using Bath Body Terminal (www.bathbodyterminal.com) Lavender Bath Salts may help you relax and better able to sleep. If the insomnia persists, you should approach your doctor for referral to a sleep clinic or specialist.


by: The Bath Body Terminal

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