| Insomnia treatment should begin with finding and | | | | L-tryptophan might be used to treat insomnia. Up to |
| treating underlying conditions. In the early phase of | | | | fifty mg per night of the OTC medication |
| treatment, sleeping pills or other medications may be | | | | diphenhydramine can also be a safe and effective |
| prescribed. | | | | sleep aid. |
| Treatments that are noninvasive are usually tried first | | | | Drug therapy can cause 'rebound insomnia' if taken |
| once different problems are ruled out. Sleeping pills | | | | too long. Without realizing it, insomniacs can become |
| are sometimes kept as a final resort. | | | | dependent on medication to sleep. After the |
| Not every drug is addictive. Psychological dependence | | | | medication is stopped, sleep becomes even more |
| is a common issue. Long-term use of medication | | | | difficult than before it was started. |
| leads to negative side effects. Drugs can become | | | | Drug therapy should not be used for long periods of |
| less effective if used too long. Drugs can stop | | | | time. Insomniacs should be careful with OTC |
| working if used each single night. | | | | medications as well. Good alternatives to drug s |
| Teaching the insomnia good sleep hygiene is the | | | | include natural foods and herbal supplements. Turkey, |
| most effective treatment. Good sleep hygiene | | | | warm milk, and Valerian tea all contain non-narcotic |
| involves creating an environment that produces | | | | sleep-inducing substances. |
| reliable restful sleep without drugs. | | | | Magnesium deficiency is sometimes a contributing |
| Good sleep hygiene begins with a careful review of | | | | factor in insomnia. Nuts, dark chocolate, deep green |
| diet and caffeine use. Caffeine intake should be | | | | leafy vegetables, and legumes are rich in magnesium |
| minimized. Heavy foods should not be eaten right | | | | and can be good for insomnia. |
| before bed. Drinking before bed is discouraged since | | | | Alternative issues |
| it can truly make sleep problems worse. | | | | Lifestyle changes and stress are common causes of |
| Stressful activity should be eliminated before bedtime. | | | | short bouts of insomnia. Insomnia that becomes |
| Sleep-inducing activities like reading, meditation, or | | | | chronic is more serious. When insomnia becomes |
| listening to soothing music will be encouraged | | | | chronic, the first step to is rule out underlying physical |
| throughout the hour before bed. Insomniacs should | | | | issues or emotional disorders. |
| keep their sleeping area dark, cool, and comfortable. | | | | Lack of exercise, stressful work and poor diet are |
| Computers and televisions in the bedroom are not | | | | the main causes of chronic anxiety that leads to |
| allowed. | | | | insomnia. Insomnia can be improved by adding daily |
| Reducing daytime stress is a crucial part of sleep | | | | exercise to each day, and by learning to manage |
| hygiene. Insomnia is often made worse by poor | | | | stress better. |
| stress management and undiagnosed anxiety. | | | | Insomnia can be treated successfully. The cure is |
| Exercise, meditation, and self-hypnosis, might be | | | | often easier than expected. Start with improved diet, |
| taught to assist the insomnia manage stress. | | | | daily exercise, and good sleep hygiene. A good place |
| If sleep hygiene doesn't relieve insomnia, the next | | | | to start out is better sleep hygiene, regular exercise, |
| step is temporary medication combined with cognitive | | | | and a healthy diet. If simple changes don't work, |
| therapy. Cognitive therapy is a method that teaches | | | | skilled help is available. |
| insomniacs to unlearn stressful reactions. Patients | | | | Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most effective |
| learn to react differently to their thoughts and sleep | | | | and affordable treatments for insomnia. CBT is not |
| begins to return naturally. | | | | expensive and is limited in duration. |
| Hypnotherapy is useful for mild insomnia but tends to | | | | Using medicine to treat insomnia should be last resort. |
| stop working for chronic cases. | | | | Drug therapy is less effective over the long-term |
| Drugs like zolpidem (Ambien), antidepressants, | | | | than CBT and lifestyle improvements. |
| melatonin, or natural substances such as five-HTP and | | | | |