Insomnia can hit us at any time. It can be caused by tension, external disturbances such as a partner’s snoring, discomfort from illness such as indigestion and a functional disorder where the sleep-awake centre of the brain is out of balance.
Here are some tips for getting to sleep:
1. Work out when you become most fatigued at night and an hour before that time take a warm bath for about 20 minutes. This will perpare your body for sleep.
2. Drink a warm beverage such as chamomile tea which has natural sedative qualities or hot milk before you go to bed.
3. Write down any thoughts or things you have to do tomorrow on a piece of paper.
4. Avoid watching or reading anything that is stimulating before bed.
5. Keep you bedroom as a sanctuary for sleep rather than watching TV in bed.
6. Get into bed 20 minutes before you normally get fatigued. If worries pop into your head repeat to yourself ‘I’ll think about it tomorrow.’ This will allow you to rest and ignore excessive thoughts.
7. Keep your room as quiet as possible. If your partner snores move to another room.
8. Use hypnotherapy everyday. Stress can aggravate a sleeping problem and even cause it. A self-hypnosis CD can help you to manage stress.