Simplifying Insomnia

“When food arrives, eat. When drowsiness besets you, sleep.” This statement couldn’t describe a more common phenomenon. However, for people who suffer from insomnia, sleep is an uncommonly large problem.

According to studies, roughly one-third of adults have experienced insomnia. Some have trouble falling asleep while others wake easily, and still others experience some combination of both. The end result is the same: they lack sleep, both in quantity (time) and in quality.

Insomniacs are sluggish throughout the day, prone to moodiness and have slowed responses. These issues are crippling to people who work jobs that require efficient brain processes. Here, I hope to provide some information that might helps our insomniac friends and reduce the serious side effects that insomnia inflicts on your life.

Categories and Causes

To find the most appropriate treatment for your insomnia, you must first recognize the type of insomnia you have. Insomnia is often categorized according to duration. There are three main types: “brief” insomnia (one week or shorter), short-term insomnia (one week to one month), chronic insomnia (longer than one month).

“Brief” insomnia is usually caused by sudden occurrences or urgent issues, such as impending exams, possible promotions, winning lotteries, or extreme use of or separation from cigarettes, alcohol, caffeine, cocaine, ephedrine (used to relieve asthma and hay fever), pain killers or energy stimulants.

Short-term insomnia is most always caused by changes to your life context. Examples include being let go from your job, bankruptcy, divorce, loved ones experiencing serious injury or death, anything that is a considerable source of stress that cannot be managed quickly. Even after the stressor has been dealt with, insomnia may still linger. This particular type of insomnia is clearly tied to anxiety and emotional imbalance.

Chronic insomnia is connected to fitness, age, medical history and medicines you may be taking or have taken. This type of insomnia could also be caused by certain conditions, such as menopause, stroke, etc.

For restoration as well as prevention, we should all do our best to achieve a healthy, balanced lifestyle. The worst thing to do is to stay up late surfing the Web or watching television. The type of visual and audio entertainment you choose could play a factor as well. Sights and sounds that are overly stimulating may trigger emotional imbalances that keep sleep at bay. Additionally, your bed or sleeping area should be kept sacred. Don’t turn it into a multipurpose area for work and entertainment as well. It is best to approach your bed only when you’re ready to sleep. Finally, don’t eat too much or leave yourself too hungry before bedtime. A little bit of alcohol can help some people sleep, but it could make others too excited to sleep. Do what’s best for you and your health.

Insomniacs need to be extra careful to make healthy lifestyle choices, be disciplines about eating and drinking, and see a doctor as soon as you suspect you may have a health issue.

TCM Foods for Insomniacs

1. Millet and date porridge: nourishing to the stomach, replenishes the blood and calms the nerves
2. Purple rice porridge, black sesame soup, lotus seeds, lily porridge, citron (day lily) all calm the nerves
3. Peanuts, walnuts and other nuts replenish the kidneys,
   the brain and replenish cephalin (phospholipids plentiful in the brain); good for those whose brains are constantly running, those who “think too much,” students preparing for an exam, and those who suffer from short-term or chronic insomnia