How To Sleep like Rip Van Winkle (Insomnia)

Member Name: janharper

Product:	Insomnia
Date:	13/12/08 (169 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: None, insomnia is awful

Disadvantages: It keeps you awake

Insomnia takes several different forms. Some people can't get to sleep, others wake very early. Then there are those who just sleep for a couple of hours and those who wake up every few hours.

The causes of this condition are almost as varied as the different patterns it takes.

What you eat or drink builds up in your system and can cause insomnia. Caffeine (in tea as well as coffee), smoking and alcohol can all cause sleep problems.

This is a strange one because I know people who can have a few drink and flake out for eight hours, no problem but if I have any alcohol in the evening I only sleep for a couple of hours, then I'm wide awake.

Some prescription drugs can cause insomnia and one of the worst for this is any kind of sleep medication. Stopping these sleep medications suddenly can cause very bad rebound insomnia.


A room that is too light, too cold, or too warm can also interrupt sleep. I also find that if the room becomes stuffy I wake up.


Watching DVD's, TV or reading exciting material, or violent and noisy material late at night upsets the brain and excites it just before bedtime. This can also cause insomnia.

Life stresses, shortage of money, family problems and a host of other things can cause sleeplessness too. Some diseases cause insomnia and so does chronic pain.

The first line of attack when trying to resolve this problem is not medication. Each person has to work out what is causing their individual problem.

Relaxation, gentle exercise and attention to diet are a good starting point but it's a matter of trial and error to find what works for you.


My own problem started quite suddenly. I have always suffered from insomnia at times of great worry, or stress, but I couldn't understand why I was waking up every two hours night after night. I was beginning to feel tired and ill and I am told that I was almost permanently bad tempered.

I tried all the obvious things and the problem wouldn't go away, so I went to see my doctor. After a series of tests it turned out that I was suffering from low sugar levels. I was eating my main meal at lunchtime and having a light meal at tea time.

I simply didn't have enough fuel in my system to last through the night, so I was waking up feeling ill.

I added a glass of milk (low fat of course) and a couple of digestive biscuits to my bedtime routine and the problem went away. It was as simple as that.

If you do suffer from insomnia try to work out what the cause could be and try to eliminate what you can. If not, you need to see a doctor as lack of sleep can wreck your health and you social and emotional life.

Summary: Insomnia has many causes, find thecause to resolve it