Sleep 101 - Sleep is Essential

Sleep is as important to your health and well-being as diet and exercise. Even a few bad nights a week can affect your mood and your physical health. So if you've been experiencing difficulty sleeping, it's important that you talk to your doctor.
The longer your sleep trouble lasts, the less likely it is to go away on its own. In fact, it may even get worse.
Take your first step towards a better night's sleep. Learn more.
The more you know about your sleeplessness, the easier it is to treat. So talk to your doctor and check out Sleep 101 for lots of helpful information.

What is Insomnia? - The real definition.

Insomnia involves more than just trouble sleeping. In fact, the true definition, according to a nationally recognized medical publication, has 2 parts.

1. You must have at least one of the following symptoms:
• difficulty falling sleep
• difficulty staying asleep
• waking up too early in the morning
• waking up feeling unrefreshed

AND

2. Your sleeplessness has a negative impact on your daytime functioning, such as difficulty concentrating or irritability.
If you're experiencing these symptoms, you may have insomnia, and it's important that you talk to your doctor. Together you can determine the best treatment option for you.

How to Treat Insomnia - Tips to ease yourself to sleep.

If counting sheep's not getting you a peaceful night's sleep, check out these 3 simple lifestyle changes that may help:

1. Create a routine
• Go to bed at the same time each night during the week and on weekends
• Try to wake up at the same time during the week and on weekends
• Set your bedtime and wake-up time at least 8 hours apart

2. Turn your bedroom into a sleep sanctuary
• Make it quiet, dark, cool and comfortable
• Never use your bed for anything but sleep and intimacy

3. Live healthy days. Enjoy happy nights.
• Eat a balanced diet
• Don't eat too close to bedtime
• Try not to smoke or drink alcohol at night
• Don't drink too much of anything before bed
• No caffeine within 6 hours of bedtime
• Try exercising in the morning or afternoon hours (at least 4 hours before bedtime)
• Keep a Sleep Diary to help uncover the cause of your sleep problem and possible solutions.

Study shows that Cognitive Therapy* Provides Insomnia Relief

According to a study conducted in the U.S., cognitive behavioral therapy* can benefit people with chronic insomnia. The researchers who conducted the study studied data gathered from 115 patients between the ages of 14 and 81 who had chronic onset insomnia, sleep maintenence insomnia or both. These patients went through cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), which makes the person learn to identify thoughts and patterns that interfere with sleep. After this, around 50% and 60% of patients said that they experienced remission of the primary sleep difficulty they suffered from. Read more about this exciting study

* Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as described by The Beck Institute states that this method is one of the few forms of psychotherapy that has been scientifically tested and found to be effective in over four hundred clinical trials for many different disorders. In contrast to other forms of psychotherapy, cognitive therapy is usually more focused on the present, more time-limited, and more problem-solving oriented. Indeed, much of what the patient does is solve current problems. In addition, patients learn specific skills that they can use for the rest of their lives. These skills involve identifying distorted thinking, modifying beliefs, relating to others in different ways, and changing behaviors.

F.e SleepAid Records know that you can use their sounds for sleep and relaxation, with the understanding that you change your thoughts about sleeping read more about that on How it Works