Imagine trying to go to sleep one night, but try as hard as you can, you just can’t get your brain to stop thinking. So you watch the clock and find yourself wishing you’d just fall asleep. You start the next day tired, groggy and moody. Your lack of sleep begins to affect your concentration at work, and your focus as you drive.

Having insomnia is a terrible experience as there isn’t an easy cure for it. If you suffer from insomnia, you should know that you are not alone. Studies have found that 30-40% of all adults suffer from insomnia at certain times in their lives.



Here are some of the common questions people as about this sleep disorder:

What causes insomnia?

Insomnia has many complex causes. Here are the four most common ones:

• Psychological causes like stress, depression and anxiety. Other emotional issues like trauma, anger, grief and worry may cause milder bouts of sleeplessness.
• Physical illnesses, including asthma, kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, acid reflux and cancer.
• Certain drugs and medication, like high blood pressure medication, ADHD drugs, corticosteroids, antidepressants and some birth control pills.
• Sleep disorders, like sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and circadian rhythm imbalance due to jetlag or shift work.

What are the symptoms of insomnia?

The symptoms of insomnia include:

• Sleeplessness, tossing and turning all night
• Waking up in the middle of the night and being unable to go back to bed
• Racing thoughts and worries through the night
• Not feeling rested even if you’ve slept
• Daytime lack of concentration, or feeling cloudy
• Making mistakes and experiencing accidents

Is there any way to cure insomnia?

If you’ve experienced a long period insomnia, for more than 3 months on and off, please see a qualified doctor. Usually severe insomnia will be treated either by drugs, counseling or consultations with a psychologist (if the cause is a mental issue).

However, you can try these natural methods at home to increase your chances of sleeping:

• Keep a regular sleep pattern at night by going to bed and waking up at about the same time.
• Avoid taking naps during the day
• Keep your room dark and turn off all lights from phones, computers and tablets
• Move bedroom clocks away if they disturb you
• Use the bedroom only for sleep and don’t work in there
• Don’t force yourself to sleep. Wake up and go out of the room. Try reading a book or listening to calming music until you feel sleepy.
• Drink some warm milk or non caffeinated beverage before bedtime to calm your body down.
• If you’re facing stress, talk it out with a loved one or friend.