subject: How does Stress affect insomnia? [print this page] How does Stress affect insomnia? How does Stress affect insomnia?
Did you know stress is one of the leading causes of insomnia? It's true, and it's also one of the most preventable.
Stress is our body's natural reaction to life-or-death situations. Stress helps humans adapt to new challenges and forget about fear or danger to do what they have to do. A certain amount of stress is normal and beneficial to people, as it helps you get things done. But no one needs to feel high levels of stress in their everyday lives, and there are plenty of tips for reducing stress and sleeping better:
Acknowledge the problem: first, you need to figure out what you're actually stressed about. It could be as simple as a looming deadline at work, or as complex as family problems or an unresolved argument with your spouse.
Brainstorm ways to fix it: Until you alleviate the source of stress from your life, you'll never be entirely free of it. So write a list of all the different ways you could solve the problem. This may mean you have to do something difficult like confront someone about the way there are treating you, or apologize to someone, or ask for an extension on your deadline but anything is better than living in a constant state of stress.
Ask someone you trust for advice: whether this is your mother, a close friend, or a counselor, an outside opinion can sometimes help you get straight to the heart of your problems. Often, simply talking about a problem can help you feel more relaxed and in control.
De-stress before bed: At least an hour before bed you should clear your head of stressful thoughts. You can do this in a number of ways; taking a relaxing bath, reading a light-hearted book, listening to ambient music or meditating. You could even ask your partner to give you a massage.
When dealing with stress it's important to solve the issue as soon as possible and not to worry about it while you're trying to sleep. You've stressed enough during the day! Try simple relaxation techniques before bed to increase your ability to fall asleep.
For more information about insomnia and sleep remedies you can visit the Sleep and Insomnia Guide
