subject: The Reasons for Insomnia [print this page] All claims in this article are backed by independent, university sponsored research which is available in the public domain. For further information, please contact the author.
The underlying physiological reasons for insomnia are critical to understand if you need help falling asleep. Knowing what causes insomnia leads directly to the solution. Most insomnia "cures" attempt to add or change something in your life in order to solve the problem. Should you add an insomnia medication or an herb intended to enhance sleep? Perhaps you should make certain changes to your diet or routine that are supposed to improve your ability to sleep.
The problem with these approaches is that they do not take into account what causes insomnia in the first place, so the chances of a permanent resolution are relatively small. When you're clear on the reasons why the insomnia is present to begin with, you can then remove them subtract the reasons for insomnia and you are left with a very natural ability to fall asleep quickly.
What Causes Insomnia
The reasons for insomnia, according to the latest university research, are tied to a neurological network in your brain, verified through MRI studies and known to scientists as the Default Mode Network. Stanley Block, MD, founder of the field of mind-body medicine known as Mind-Body Bridging, has called this brain network our Identity System (I-System). The I-System plays a strong role in cognitive functioning and allows you to perceive yourself as an individual, separate from others and the environment.
When the I-System is overactive, however, your awareness becomes narrow and focused only on those things that isolate you, such as fear, worry, anger, conflict and all manner of stress that involves body tension and mind clutter that prevents you from falling asleep. Whether you are emotionally stressed or merely preoccupied with problems, solutions or to-do lists, the mind clutter and bodily tension generated by your I-System keeps you tossing and turning.
Help Falling Asleep
The key to falling asleep naturally is to quiet your I-System. Again, when we remove the reasons for insomnia, the symptom simply disappears. What causes insomnia is an overactive Identity System that generates ongoing mind clutter and body tension. Mind-Body Bridging was developed in order to rest the I-System through Bridging Awareness Practices, Mind-Body Mapping, Thought Labeling and other tools developed by Dr. Block which are unique in the field of mind-body medicine and stress management. Over the last 15 years of research and development, Dr. Block has made a profound discovery: When the I-System is at rest, so are you!
Scientific research backs this claim. The Mind-Body Bridging Insomnia program was administered among the two toughest insomnia populations, cancer patients and combat veterans undergoing treatment at a VA hospital. Sleep was significantly improved in an astounding 90% of participants in the Mind-Body Bridging group. Two other methods were used in control groups, Sleep Hygiene and Mindfulness Meditation. Both of these methods improved sleep mildly, yet were dramatically less effective in treating insomnia than the Mind-Body Bridging protocol.
Details are available at ClinicalTrials.gov. You can also visit the Mind-Body Bridging for Insomnia website to review further information, learn more about what causes insomnia and receive helping falling asleep.
