Loss of Sleep: What’s Holding You Back?
There are often dire consequences to those sleepless nights. Over 70 million Americans suffer from some form of sleep loss, and it is clear to see that this epidemic can wreak havoc on the body.
These bleary eyed citizens are experiencing excess stress, weight gain, anxiety and tension. Not a pretty picture!
Loss of sleep can be attributed to multiple factors and when you’re the one left lying awake, you may want to consider what could be keeping your eyelids open.
Loss of Sleep: Factors
Many Americans overuse caffeinated beverages and this is a common source of sleep loss. If you’re a java junky, you may want to consider switching to decaf. Even if it’s only after noon, switching to decaffeinated coffee can help your body relax and drift to sleep.
Soft drinks are also a common source of caffeine for most Americans. Carbonated beverages have become America’s dirty little secret. Packed with sugar and caffeine, the overuse of cola drinks plays an important role in the obesity epidemic.
Try to cut out soda from your diet completely, but if you’re hooked, consider a more gradual approach to kicking the habit. By eliminating or drastically reducing our caffeine intake, we can begin to battle the factors contributing to loss of sleep.
Do you find yourself running through your to-do list while tucked between the sheets? I’m with you on this one, but we know that we need to stop this bad habit from making our insomnia even worse. Bedtime is not the time for planning your day and it can be a hindering factor in your loss of sleep.
Consider checking your day at the door and reserve your bedroom for sleep and relaxation. Create a haven for yourself, away from your job, bills and family, and allow yourself to feel relaxed and secure in your own space.
If you have trouble winding down at the end of the day, using meditation breathing techniques can help you to calm your mind. Just relax, close your eyes and focus on your breath as it enters and leaves your body. Think of it as counting sheep for grown-ups!
Loss of Sleep: What You Might Not Know
This stat might be a shocker too. 18 million Americans are falling asleep but waking up feeling like they didn’t sleep at all and this number is increasing each year. If you find yourself waking up often in the middle of the night, you may want to consider consulting your doctor. You may suffer from sleep apnea, a condition characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep.
While not considered a loss of sleep, it can be a very serious condition and cause chronic fatigue, cardiac complications and depression. It is thought that the majority of people afflicted with sleep apnea are unaware that they have it, so it’s important to consider that this may be a factor in your restless nights.
Supplements to Help with Loss of Sleep:
Improvement of Mood: NOW 5-HTP
Calming and Relaxing: Gaia Herbs Kava Kava
Maintain Normal and Health Mental FunctionsNOW L-Tyrosine
Loss of Sleep: Conclusion
Sleep is such an important part of our lives and is the time when you allow your body to recover and regroup so if you experience loss of sleep, it’s important to consult your physician and consider the underlying causes.
Try and pin point the source whether it being stress, or too much caffeine in your diet, consider making the appropriate changes to get a more restful night. The effects of sleep deprivation can cause stress and lack of focus at home and at work. Be sure to remedy the issue before you find that you’re suffering.
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