Lots of people have trouble with sleep, either with being sleepy during the day (or all the time) or with insomnia when they try to go to bed. Sometimes, people have trouble with both at the same time, either because the insomnia is causing them to be tired, or because something else is causing both problems. Whatever the case may be, sleep is important to our health, and it’s something that a lot of us struggle with on a daily basis.
The first step to combating any problem is to know your enemy. You have to understand the nature of sleep and sleep disturbance in order to find relief.
1. Medications Can Affect Sleep
Obviously, things like stimulants will make it harder for you to sleep. However, there are plenty of medicines on the market, both prescription and over-the-counter, that can mess up your sleep and make you feel tired. Combinations of medications can also have an impact, when one or the other doesn’t cause a problem. Take a look at the package and talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the medicines you’re taking, including any vitamins or supplements.
2. Medical Conditions Can Affect Sleep
If you’re having trouble with sleep, and you’ve tried everything you can think of, it may not be your fault. You should see your doctor for a physical exam, and make sure you tell your doctor if you’re tired a lot or having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Sleep disturbance and intermittent insomnia can be symptoms of any number of medical problems. If nothing else, if you have a clean bill of health, the doctor may be able to prescribe a sleep aid or something to help with the fatigue.
3. Stress Can Affect Sleep
For some people, large amounts of stress can make it hard for them to sleep at night. They stay awake for hours, laying in bed thinking about the things in their lives that cause them stress. Unpaid bills, trouble at work or trouble finding work, disagreements with their spouse, and other things can make you worry and literally keep you up at night. For other people, chronic stress leaves them feeling exhausted, unable to function. And for some, stress causes both exhaustion and the inability to sleep, a very uncomfortable combination.
Do you know any more? Have you experienced any of these? Anything else to add? Please share in the comments.
— photo by Sister72, courtesy of Flickr
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