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What Are the Typical Causes of Insomnia and What Can You Do About It?If you currently suffer with insomnia, you'll know how frustrating it can be. Knowing the causes of insomnia and the specific cause of your insomnia will help to lessen it's grip on your life. This is important, as insomnia has been linked to disorders such as depression, impaired motor skills, weight gain and memory loss among others. Here are the most common causes of insomnia.Substances that give you a "kick" can be one of the major causes of insomnia. These include coffee, colas, energy drinks and cigarettes. Did you know that caffeine can remain in your system for eight hours and even more for susceptible people? If you have insomnia, try to keep your coffee to mornings only.The number one of all the causes for insomnia has to be stress. Stress and it's cousin anxiety, keep millions of people awake at night. Anxiety can elevate your brainwaves to a high beta state and cause a restless mind. And when you wake up in the middle of the night it can make it almost impossible to go back to sleep. Managing anxiety and stress is paramount and can be done with some mental mind control. Learn to avoid stress when possible and manage it better through exercise, relaxation, EFT or hypnosis. Certain medications can cause insomnia. You already know the stimulants that stop the mind from relaxing, well some medications can be just as potent as these and even worse. Some medications contain caffeine, for example those that are prescribed to keep us alert. There are other medications that can prevent relaxation such as some weight loss medications designed to increase metabolism. Decongestants can also contain a chemical that excites the brain and can keep us tossing and turning for hours. There are certain health disorders that can lead to insomnia due to the discomfort they can cause. One example is Restless Leg Syndrome which is uncontrollable movement of the legs. This condition often gets worse during rest. Health conditions such as arthritis cause pain which can make it hard to go to sleep. Emotional disorders like depression can cause early awakening. Finally what you eat can have an effect on your sleep and eating the wrong type of food can be one of the unsuspected causes of insomnia. Oh the other hand, other foods can promote restful sleep. Carbohydrates at night can calm the mind and increase melatonin, a sleep hormone in the brain. Eating a large meal late at night will take a lot of digesting and could lead to restless sleep. Stay away from very rich foods high in fat for the same reasons. Knowing the primary causes of insomnia can allow you to make changes in your diet or lifestyle to make a difference in the quality of your sleep. Generally, the healthier your diet and lifestyle, the better you will sleep. Having a sleep routine and regular bedtime and waking time help too. Practicing relaxation techniques during the day can also help you go to sleep at night, because, as we now know, stress is one of the leading causes of insomnia.
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