Barnaby here, and unfortunately I must report a temporary relapse back into the symptoms of insomnia. For those of you new to my story, I’ve been posting on here for quite some time about my travails with chronic insomnia. Many of the usual causes of insomnia including clinical depression and sleep apnea have been ruled out in my case, and I tried a wide variety of sleep treatments. Recently, hypnotherapy for insomnia was proving to be quite helpful. I went for a stretch of around two weeks without experiencing symptoms of insomnia, but the past few nights I was not so lucky. I reverted back to my dreaded tossing and turning throughout the night, and I have become quite tired at work during the day.
For those of you who are still unaware, the most common symptoms of insomnia include:
- Frequent waking up in the middle of the night
- Taking more than an hour to fall asleep
- Waking up long before necessary in the morning
- Feelings of anxiety and a short temper during the day
- Tiredness even after thinking you slept through the night
Independently, not every symptom of insomnia indicates that insomnia is actually present. Everyone occasionally has trouble falling asleep, and most people are at least occasionally tired during the day. However, when these symptoms of insomnia occur on a frequent basis, then insomnia might prove to be the correct diagnosis. Unfortunately, diagnosing insomnia is far easier than treating it. In my case, I have been through a plethora of suggested cures — none to any avail. Hypnotherapy for insomnia had begun to help, but the jury is still out on whether my insomnia is gone for good. I’ll update everyone again soon,
It’s Barnaby, and I’d like to share some interesting tidbits I learned from my hypnotherapist, Sharon. Sleep disorders insomnia, narcolepsy and others are among the most intriguing ailments suffered by us. Very little is known about the human brain, and even more mysterious are our sleep and dreams. Although much remains unknown about sleep, it is known that without it, we can not live. Sleep — and dreams, too — are necessary for a person to live. Sadly, in some of the severest sleep disorders insomnia people who can not sleep for long durations can entail a fatal result. These cases are extremely rare, and the vast majority of sleep disorders insomnia cases are relatively mild. Nonetheless, I can attest from personal experience that even moderate insomnia can truly impinge upon one’s life.
I have been experiencing sleep issues for several months now, and I have tried sleep aids, changing my sleep environment and a whole list of other potential sleep treatments. My test ruled out sleep apnea, and a professional ruled out the possibility of clinical depression. Recently, I turned to hypnotherapy for help, and my therapist Sharon has been great. Today she was telling me about a patient who suffers from narcolepsy. She advised him that hypnotherapy has not been shown to help narcolepsy at all, and that it was a medical condition requiring serious treatment. He knew this, but was so desperate that he was willing to try anything no matter how remote the chances of it helping. Sharon figured that no harm could come from hypnotherapy, and it might serve to just relax him if not help his sleep condition.
When she was describing to me how much he suffers, I felt almost lucky to have the opposite condition of insomnia. Those with narcolepsy can fall asleep immediately — even if driving or doing other dangerous activities. This presents far more danger than frustrating nights tossing and turning in bed. Hopefully, science makes some inroads and gains insight into sleep disorders, insomnia and narcolepsy — many of us truly need the help.
There are now a plethora of sources for insomnia information, but, unfortunately, many provide less than objective advice. These days, when seeking information most turn to the Internet — and the volumes of information on the Internet ensure almost every question can be answered. However, within this voluminous information there exists myths, confusion and even outright falsehoods. Some websites purporting to convey insomnia information exist solely for the purpose of selling you a specific product — whether you need it or not. For example, a given source for insomnia information might say that sleep apnea is always the cause of chronic insomnia, and then they subsequently try to sell you a CPAP mask. The truth is that only a small portion of those with sleep problems truly have sleep apnea, and that the particular site was misleading you solely for the purpose of parting you with your hard earned money.
This phenomenon is salient within all arenas of knowledge conveyed over the Internet, however, within the realm of insomnia information it is especially prominent. Consequently, readers need to be especially discriminating — and skeptical — when seeking health information online. There exists several reputable sources which are universally recognized as providing objective information. However, these sites usually cover a wide range of health topics and give short shrift to insomnia information. Sources like CantSleep.com focus solely on insomnia information, and one of the reasons I felt comfortable sharing my story here is that you can easily see CantSleep isn’t pushing a diagnosis on anyone or suggesting that one form of treatment is better than another. The bottom line is, when seeking insomnia information digest what you read with a large grain of salt.
Barnaby here, and I’d like to answer a question which has been sent in by quite a few of our readers here at CantSleep. This questions relates to what exactly are insomnia symptoms? Everyone experiences occasional nights of restlessness, but when do normal happenings cross the line thus turning into insomnia symptoms? The following, at least according to prominent insomnia experts, constitutes insomnia symptoms:
– Lying in bed for an hour or more on a constant basis being unable to fall asleep
– Commonly waking up in the middle of the night and being unable to fall back asleep
– Waking up too early in the morning without falling asleep again
– Feelings of grouchiness, anxiety and distraction during the course of the day
– Still feeling tired after thinking you got a full night’s sleep
Insomnia symptoms can relate to both the quality and quantity of sleep. Many who suffer from insomnia are unaware that they are not getting quality sleep. This often happens with sleep apnea which causes the sufferer to wake up gasping for breath multiple times during the course of an evening. This obviously detracts from quality sleep, and even though you think you slept all night the quality of that sleep was deficient. Obviously, it is often hard to determine what are insomnia symptoms versus what are just normal happenings within life. Being grouchy one day, of course, does not indicate that you have insomnia. However, when multiple symptoms emerge that provides a real clue that insomnia may be the culprit. In the end, only a qualified health care provider can derive an accurate insomnia diagnosis, so if you think you have insomnia symptoms, then the best first step is to seek help from a professional.
I’ll be back soon to update everyone on my progress using hypnotherapy to address my own insomnia symptoms.
It is Barnaby here. I’ve previously discussed why I can’t use common sleep aids, but I went against my own rules out of desperation for some sleep the other night. Once again, the sleep aid I used caused me to be quite out of it the following day — even more so than I usually am after tossing and turning all night. For those of you using either prescription or over-the-counter sleep aids, I’d like to enumerate the potential hazards from these drugs. Although many can use common sleep aids without any adverse effects, some (including myself) can experience one or several of the following events:
– Increasing drug tolerance forcing you to continually step up your dosage
– Possible withdrawal symptoms upon discontinuation of use
– Some sleep aids can result in dependency
– Some experience “rebound insomnia” after discontinuing sleep aid use
– Sleep aids can have unforeseen interactions with other drugs you may be taking
– Side effects can be present with many common over the counter sleep aids
When used for occasional insomnia, sleep aids can be quite helpful and are generally safe. However, those who use sleep aids for extended periods are often just masking the underlying condition which is causing the insomnia. Failure to recognize some possible causes — including sleep apnea — can lead to even more severe adverse health conditions. If you find yourself continually using sleep aids, then it is advised you seek the opinion of a qualified health care provider in order to ascertain whether sleep aid use can be safely continued. Unfortunately, my insomnia is unable to be solved with simple sleep aids — but hopefully I find my magic sleep bullet soon.
It’s Barnaby again, and I’d like to discuss some good sleep deprivation help I’ve received from a local insomnia support group. Although I have yet to find a cause, nor cure, for my insomnia, the support of others suffering from the same ailment can serve as effective sleep deprivation help — if only for moral support. This support extends to online communities such as those who read CantSleep.com — sharing our stories and ideas about insomnia is an effective tool towards conquering this beast once and for all. Sleep deprivation help can come in the form of moral and peer support along with professional treatment.
Unfortunately, one has to determine the cause of their particular sleep troubles in order to effectuate a useful treatment regimen. I say unfortunately because I have yet to ascertain the cause of my insomnia which has periodically reared its head over the past few months. I enjoyed a brief period of sleep deprivation help through the use of Valerian, but for some reason it suddenly lost its effectiveness after two week’s use. I have ruled out sleep apnea, clinical depression and migraine headaches as potential causes — and my search continues. Until I find a long term cure for my insomnia, I must rely on sleep deprivation help in the form of support groups and online communities like the one here on this blog. I do appreciate all the suggestions and tips received from CantSleep.com readers — and I encourage everyone to continue to write in. Maybe one of you can provide the ultimate sleep deprivation help in the form of a permanent cure for my insomnia.
Hi everyone, it’s Barnaby here with a word about sleep information on the Internet:
Websites about insomnia, sleep apnea and a variety of other sleep information now proliferate the Internet. While many sites like WebMD and CantSleep.com offer accurate and objective information, others exist solely to promote a given product as opposed to providing reliable sleep information. Those seeking sleep information are often doing so because of signs of insomnia, sleep apnea, clinical depression as well as several other potentially serious medical conditions. In this scenario, accurate and objective sleep information becomes quite important. What is also important is to remember that only a qualified health care provider can diagnosis and prescribe treatment for your particular condition.
Seeking to self-treat from sleep information obtained on the Internet can prove counterproductive, and — in many cases — quite costly. Some less than reputable websites providing sleep information end up selling you expensive, yet ineffective solutions to your particular problem. In the worst cases, those who rely upon faulty sleep information obtained online fail to get the real help they so desperately need. One reason that I agreed to write for CantSleep.com is that I noticed they never pushed a given product or treatment. I have been impressed with the large amount of objective and helpful sleep information provided by CantSleep, and I hope to do my small part by contributing my story which I hope will help both myself as well as my fellow CantSleep readers.
Barnaby here. After spending a restless hour in bed watching my wife sleep I decided to come back out on the porch in order to catch the sun rise. Enjoying picturesque Florida sunrises each morning has been one pleasant benefit of my recent insomnia issues — however, candidly, I’d give up seeing the sun rise ever again in return for just one full night’s sleep. It has been over two weeks since I’ve gotten more than four hours on any given night, and it is beginning to take its toll. My boss has noticed — and so have my kids. I’ve become uncharacteristically irritable, and the lack of sleep is beginning to show in my face. Some days, I hardly recognize myself. After talking to friends, a plethora of doctors along with complete strangers, I’ve received what must be hundreds of sleep tips. They range from the serious (issues like sleep apnea) to the bizarre (one of the sleep tips told to me was to drink garlic spiked hot chocolate before attempting to go to sleep).
My current condition has caused me to become quite educated about the causes of insomnia, but unfortunately to this point none of the plethora of sleep tips I’ve discovered has worked for me. It started with paying attention to everything I ate or drank after 6pm. No more expresso with Sambuca after dinner, no more night time Mt. Dews and no chocolate in the evenings. I scrutinized everything I consumed during the evening hours, and if it contained even the smallest hint of caffeine I abstained. I’m not a huge drinker, but one of the sleep tips I received was to avoid alcohol in the evenings so I did — except for one especially bad night last week when another tipster told me to try 3 quick shots of Southern Comfort to see if that worked — but that’s a different story.
Another one of the easier sleep tips told to me was to make our bedroom as dark and quiet as possible. Trust me, Suz wasn’t thrilled at all with hanging a black sheet over the nice shades at night — but far cheaper than black-out curtains, and hopefully my insomnia is gone soon. I added to this earplugs and a sleep mask. The sleep mask was extremely uncomfortable and only served to seriously freak out my 2 year old James when he saw me in it, so that was ditched. So, starting around 10 days ago, each evening I went to bed without a hint of caffeine in my body in a very dark (but unfashionable with the ugly black sheet hanging on the wall) bedroom. Problem solved, right? I only wish it was that easy.
The sun is rising now. It really is beautiful, but at this point it has become almost a dreadful sight for me to see once again. Time to jump in the shower and fib to Suz once again telling her I was able to get at least a few hours of sleep.
Sound Sleep, Sound Mind – by Barry Krakow M.D. is the first book of its kind to focus on all the causes that contribute to sleep disorders and poor sleep – insomnia, sleep apnea, nightmares, and more. Based on cutting-edge research, this book explains why and how sleep problems are almost always a mind and body issue. It then guides you through the seven steps of Sleep Dynamic Therapy to identify and treat the specific issues that are at the root of your sleeplessness. You’ll find Sleep Dynamic Therapy not only improves your sleep quality, but also enhances many other aspects of your mental and physical well-being.
Whether you currently take over-the-counter or prescription sleeping pills, suffer from chronic or occasional insomnia, or awaken without feeling refreshed and energized, Sound Sleep, Sound Mind will help you get the sleep you deserve and need.
For more information about Sound Sleep, Sound Mind and Dr. Barry Krakow visit sleeptreatment.com
“If you are one of the 100 million Americans suffering from poor quality sleep, Sound Sleep, Sound Mind provides a refreshing look at getting to the real solutions for our sleep-deprived, over-caffeinated, over-medicated, over-stressed, and exhausted society. Look no further to find the ways to address the root causes of your sleep problems.”
–Mark Hyman, MD, author of the New York Times bestseller, UltraMetabolism and editor in chief of Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine
“An excellent book that won’t put you to sleep until bedtime–Sound Sleep, Sound Mind convinced me how important sleep is to good health. This is a wonderful treatment that teaches you how to identify and cope with feelings and emotions–one of the best, long-term remedies for insomnia.”
–Leslie S. Greenberg, PhD, Professor of Psychology at York University and author of Emotion-Focused Therapy
Sleep apnea is a medical condition which impacts your breathing while you sleep. This condition causes you to briefly cease breathing — again and again — throughout the night as you sleep. Not only does this result in a poor night’s sleep, but it can also trigger other more serious conditions including hypertension and even heart attacks and strokes. When left untreated, sleep apnea has the proclivity to get progressively worse. Consequently, it is very important to ascertain whether you have sleep apnea, and fluency with the main sleep apnea statistics can help you make this determination.
Sleep apnea statistics show that up to 20 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea to some degree. Those on the lower end of the spectrum experience only 1-2 episodes per night with an average duration of under 10 seconds. Those with more severe sleep apnea can have over 10 instances of apnea during the course of an average night, and these episodes can last up to 30 seconds leaving the sufferer gasping for breath before falling back asleep — only to be awoken shortly thereafter by another episode. Oftentimes, you don’t even remember any of the apnea episodes upon awakening, and you suffer being tired all day without a clue as to the reason why.
In terms of gender, sleep apnea statistics show that males are far more likely to have it as compared to females. 24% of all men experience sleep apnea while only 9% of women have the condition. This changes for women experiencing menopause which is the most likely time for females to experience sleep apnea episodes. Knowing these sleep apnea statistics allows you to be cognizant of the signs and know when it is time to act.
Everyone has occasional bouts of sleeplessness. However, seeing you are reading this, the odds are high that you have a more chronic form of insomnia — and have a great desire for insomnia tips and advice towards helping you start getting a full night’s sleep. The best insomnia tips are often the most simple. Think about what you eat and drink within the 2 hours prior to going to bed. Do these foods and drinks contain caffeine? If so, you should cut them out. Some people find it difficult sleeping after consuming large amounts of sugar, so an easy pointer among all the insomnia tips is to cut out those sweets for at least 120 minutes prior to bed-time.
Many good insomnia tips relate to your sleep environment. Some people can sleep through a train roaring through their bedroom, while others of us are awakening by the slightest noise, movement or ray of light. Ensure that your sleep space is as dark, quiet and temperate as you can make it. A good tip could also be to try another pillow, or rearrange the direction of your bed. Small adjustments like these have been known to work wonders.
In some cases, applicable insomnia tips entail a more serious response. Sleep apnea is a major cause of insomnia, and if this is the reason for your sleepnessness, then you must address it immediately. Sleep apnea can lead to serious health effects including high blood pressure and cardiovascular issues. Depression has also been tied to insomnia. Today, clinical depression can be effectively treated, and addressing it surely will improve many aspects of your life including sleep.
One of the best insomnia tips is to be very careful when using OTC or prescription sleeping pills. These sleep aids are great for occasional insomnia, but when used regularly they can be addictive and serve to only exacerbate the existing problem. Run down the list of possible causes of insomnia and see which apply to you. Once you know the source of your insomnia, then you’ll be able to focus on the best insomnia tips for your individual circumstance.
Research has shown that a majority of us have at least occasional trouble when attempting to fall asleep fast. Whether you have periodic or chronic insomnia, there are solutions available which prove far more effective than counting sheep. For those experiencing temporary bouts of insomnia, there are a plethora of over-the-counter (OTC) sleep aids which can allow you to fall asleep fast. These pills do not require a prescription, and studies have shown that they can be used safely and effectively for limited duration. However, even the best OTC sleep aids can become addictive, and they should not be used to treat chronic insomnia.
Some have trouble falling asleep because they — or their partners — are afflicted by snoring. There are several easy fixes when it comes to snoring including strips which facilitate the flow of air through the nose and sleeping techniques which lower the odds of snores ensuing. Simple environmental issues can prove to be the culprits behind your failure to get to sleep. Noise, light and temperature can all prevent sleep, and the easiest first step for those desiring to fall asleep fast is to ensure a dark, quiet and cool setting within your sleep space.
There can be more serious causes behind the inability to fall asleep fast. One such example is sleep apnea which entails brief periods of breathing cessation which occur sporadically throughout the night. Not only does sleep apnea ensure a night of tossing and turning, but it also can lead to more serious adverse health effects including cardiovascular issues. Those suffering from sleep apnea can find relief via changing their sleeping position, losing weight or using a variety of devices on the market aimed at combating this condition.
No matter what the reason behind your inability to fall asleep fast, there is an effective treatment. The first requisite step is to identify the particular issue behind your sleep issues. With this knowledge you are better able to select the best solution geared for your particular sleep issue. There is no reason to continue tossing and turning each night — there is a cure out there which will allow you to fall asleep fast.
Sound Sleep, Sound Mind 
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