So, you don’t think you have insomnia? Or maybe you know you do, and you don’t know what to do about it. In order to determine whether or not we have insomnia, we need to know what it is. Many people think it means a person can’t fall asleep until 3 AM. That’s one definition, but it’s only one definition. Here are some definitions of insomnia you might not be aware of.
Insomnia Definitions
- Trouble falling asleep
- Waking up during the night, and not being able to go to sleep
- Waking too early in the morning
- Feeling tired when you wake
Now that you know Insomnia includes more than just not being able to fall asleep at night, do you suffer from this sleep disorder? If your sleep patterns fall into one of the above categories, then you are an insomniac. The bad news is you can’t get those lost hours of sleep back. The good news is you can do something about your sleep disorder now.
Overcoming Insomnia
- Breathe – Breathing deeply helps your brain relax and slowly sends signals to it that it is time to settle down. Then, the brain sends that same message to the body, thus causing your heart rate and more to decrease.
- Guided Imagery – Imagine yourself somewhere, such as on a tropical beach, relaxing. Your imagination has the ability to convince your body you are experiences what you are thinking. This will help your body fall into a rest mode,much like with breathing deeply.
- Sleep schedule – It’s important to go to bed at the same time every night, wake at the same time every morning, and try night to take naps during the day. It is important to maintain the same sleep schedule several days a week, soyour body gets into a sleep routine.
- Lights off – Make sure you sleep in complete darkness or as close to complete darkness as you can. If you need to keep a light on, such as for a power strip, hide it so the light won’t be a distraction.
Your insomnia may require you take more action than just change your bedtime ritual, schedule, or environment. An examination by an upper cervical specialist can determine whether or not a misalignment in your upper neck vertebrae may be a cause of your insomnia. Upper neck misalignments can cause stress to the brainstem which can impact your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep.
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Dr. Armen Manoucherian of Health Edge Family Spinal Care in Glendale, California is a Glendale Chiropractor and Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). He has helped many children and adults find natural relief in Glendale, California. His upper cervical clinic also serves the communities of Pasadena, Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Burbank. He is uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems. More information can be found on his website at https://www.healthedgela.com