Whether you are part of an official sleep study or you just desire a solution for yourself, one tool that will help you find the sleep you are being deprived of is a sleep diary. One of the most frustrating issues of having a sleep disorder is the not knowing why it’s happening to you. This is the first step in finding an insomnia cure.
A sleep diary will help you identify the reasons you’re not getting enough rest at night. There is no exact right or wrong sleep pattern, but having a diary that records your slumber will help you see when (and why) your sleep routine is making you feel deprived and exhausted.
If you are suffering from sleep deprivation, your mind may not function as effectively as it does when you are getting adequate rest. A diary will help you remember the details of why you woke up, or what caused you to have trouble getting to sleep.
You’ll need to record certain details about your sleep, not just whether or not you got any. You’ll want to jot down your pre-slumber routine - were you watching 24 or cleaning house right before bed, or did you have a sugar filled, high-caffeine meal 20 minutes before crawling into bed?
Your diary can identify habits you haven’t picked up on. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy either. Just a piece of paper with grids can be all that's needed to document a record of your sleep activity. You don’t even need to be exact with timelines – if you know you went to bed around 10 PM, write it down – don’t worry if it was 9:55 PM or 10:12 PM.
Keep track of the times you wake up and what made you wake up. Did you get out of bed when you woke up, or just lie there looking at the ceiling? What did you do? How long did it take you to go back to sleep? All of these answers help the sleep study clinic (or you) identify what you’re doing right or wrong.
Try to keep a record of when you fell asleep and woke up, how often (and for how long) you awoke during the night, what medications you were on, what you ate, any naps you took during the day, and when you felt sleepy versus when you were alert and awake.
Note to yourself whether you felt energetic or fatigued when the alarm went off the next morning. Keep track of what you consumed during the day – caffeine, medications, food, etc. At different times of the day, try to note how you feel – energetic or beat down?
Go over your sleep diary and see what adjustments you can make in your lifestyle habits to help get rid of your sleep disorder. If you don’t see anything apparent to your knowledge, then take the sleep diary to a physician and have him or her read through it to see if a professionally-trained medical professional can find the issues you need to address.
Insomnia Cure
Showing posts with label insomnia cure. Show all posts
Showing posts with label insomnia cure. Show all posts
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Monday, October 15, 2007
Antihistamine Sleep Aid Danger
Antihistamine Sleep Aid
How would you like to experience intermediate blurred vision, constipation, urinary retention, dizziness, forgetfulness, lack of coordination, and continual dry throat and mouth? Sounds great doesn't it! Well that's just some of the wonderful side effects you can look forward to when using over the counter antihistamine sleep aids.
Other concerns associated with using over the counter medications and prescriptions can include rebound insomnia, withdrawal symptoms, various physical side effects, dependency, drug tolerance, and negative interactions with other drugs or chemicals in your system.
These chemical remedies may seem the easiest and quickest way to solve their sleep problems, but the problem is that the causes of insomnia are very complex, and different for every person. A quick fix pill solution can be a very appealing answer for many people, unfortunately, insomnia meds won't cure your sleep problems, and they can very often exacerbate the issue over the long haul.
If you absolutely have to pop a sleeping pill because you are traveling, or perhaps in a great deal of pain, and absolutely have to get some sleep, then pay close attention to the kind of medicine you choose, and take only when absolutely necessary. Place more emphasis on making your sleep habits and sleep environment more conducive to sleep, and you'll do much better in limiting the effects of insomnia in your life.
The bottom line...
If you absolutely must use meds like a antihistamine sleep aid, then make sure you educate yourself about the drugs available, the possible side effects, and interactions with other drugs you are taking. Make sure to start with small doses and increase gradually, according to your doctors instructions. Closely monitor your body's reaction and any side effects you may be experiencing. Try not to use every day, but rather intermittently in order to increase effectiveness and decrease side effects. Most importantly, consult with your doctor and ask for his advice.
Creating a peaceful environment to naturally wind down your body's nervous system and brain functions is by far, the best way to begin experiencing deep and peaceful sleep. Explore these non-med possibilities, and create a better, more content life for yourself.
Antihistamine Sleep Aid
How would you like to experience intermediate blurred vision, constipation, urinary retention, dizziness, forgetfulness, lack of coordination, and continual dry throat and mouth? Sounds great doesn't it! Well that's just some of the wonderful side effects you can look forward to when using over the counter antihistamine sleep aids.
Other concerns associated with using over the counter medications and prescriptions can include rebound insomnia, withdrawal symptoms, various physical side effects, dependency, drug tolerance, and negative interactions with other drugs or chemicals in your system.
These chemical remedies may seem the easiest and quickest way to solve their sleep problems, but the problem is that the causes of insomnia are very complex, and different for every person. A quick fix pill solution can be a very appealing answer for many people, unfortunately, insomnia meds won't cure your sleep problems, and they can very often exacerbate the issue over the long haul.
If you absolutely have to pop a sleeping pill because you are traveling, or perhaps in a great deal of pain, and absolutely have to get some sleep, then pay close attention to the kind of medicine you choose, and take only when absolutely necessary. Place more emphasis on making your sleep habits and sleep environment more conducive to sleep, and you'll do much better in limiting the effects of insomnia in your life.
The bottom line...
If you absolutely must use meds like a antihistamine sleep aid, then make sure you educate yourself about the drugs available, the possible side effects, and interactions with other drugs you are taking. Make sure to start with small doses and increase gradually, according to your doctors instructions. Closely monitor your body's reaction and any side effects you may be experiencing. Try not to use every day, but rather intermittently in order to increase effectiveness and decrease side effects. Most importantly, consult with your doctor and ask for his advice.
Creating a peaceful environment to naturally wind down your body's nervous system and brain functions is by far, the best way to begin experiencing deep and peaceful sleep. Explore these non-med possibilities, and create a better, more content life for yourself.
Antihistamine Sleep Aid
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