Signs of Insomnia?

Parent Cafe
1

<p>What are some signs that you might be an insomniac?</p>

2

<p>Posting on CC at 4 AM local time.</p>

3

<p>not sleeping</p>

4

<p>Duh, not being able to sleep. Next question!</p>

5

<p>basically, not being able to fall asleep or stay asleep for at least 3-4 nights per week for at least 3-4 weeks.</p>

6

<p>Insominia is often a symptom of another underlying problem rather than a condition.</p>

<p>You have insomnia if:</p>

<p>You routinely cannot fall asleep within 20 minutes of laying down for the night. </p>

<p>You wake up in the middle of the night and cannot go back to sleep within 20 minutes.</p>

<p>Underlying causes might be:</p>

<p>Anemia
Depression
BiPolar mania
Menopause
Sensitivity to caffeine
Anxiety/Stress</p>

<p>You can eliminate mild insomnia with these daily habits:</p>

<p>Totally eliminate caffeine–not even decaf.</p>

<p>Do one solid hour of cardio exercise per day followed by 20 minutes of deep stretching.</p>

<p>Learn mind control exercises to empty your brain and stop the running thoughts whem you need to go to sleep.</p>

<p>Regular deep tissue massage.</p>

<p>As much sunshine and fresh air as you can fit into the day.</p>

<p>Do not eat after 7 pm.</p>

<p>Those are my tips.</p>

7

<p>it sometimes take me an hour or more to fall asleep for the night. (never less than 20 mins) but i rarely wake up in the night and if i do i can fall right back asleep. so do i still have insomnia?</p>

8

<p>Sins, I am no doctor but I’d say you need to learn to control racing thoughts and caffeine intake in order to reduce the time you need to fall asleep.</p>

<p>I’d say you are not an insomniac though. Insomniacs are awake all hours of the night while you are sleeping.</p>

9

<p>you dont necessarily need to sleep 0 hours per night to be insomniac- its an inability to sleep and/or to remain asleep for a reasonable period. </p>

<p>(its all about the sleeping pills)</p>

10

<p>Chronic insomnia can be associated with immune dysfunction although it’s not clear which comes first.</p>

<p><a href=“Psychosomatic Medicine”>http://www.psychosomaticmedicine.org/cgi/content/abstract/65/2/211&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

11

<p>The falling asleep part is really a problem for me too-- usually 60-90min. Cheers, I would like to try some of your suggestions–not sure I’m up to an hour of cardio!</p>

12

<p>Get a good relaxation recording, similar to the one on Lucinda Bassett’s stress and anxiety series, and put it on an ipod. Listen to it daily so you get used to the exercise. Then use it to go to sleep at night or if you wake up in the middle of the night. Works like a champ… And no pills!</p>

13

<p>My problem is not getting to sleep (no problem, 9-9:30 p.m. every night including weekends!) but staying asleep-I wake up before 5 a.m. almost every morning, and I can’t get back to sleep!</p>

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<p>springfieldmom- even though you get up really early, you also get to sleep early, so in reality, you are getting 6-8 hours of sleep, which isnt horrible</p>

15

<p>Even if you are up at 4:30, you are getting 7 hours which sounds pretty good. Try staying up later. I can’t seem to make it to bed until midnight, then takes about an hour for sleep–then up by 6:30.</p>