Hey Friends! Please excuse us while we play catch up! Here’s a post that we created and shared on Instagram recently!
Instagram is meant for quick intake, so we just wanted to bring this post over to the blog to further explore how to combat insomnia! Lets start with the five types of insomnia: Acute Insomnia, is when your sleep is affected short term meaning one to several days, or up to a few weeks then resolves. Then there’s Chronic Insomnia, when the sleep difficulties are more frequent – occurring at least three times a week for three months or longer. Another type of Insomnia is Onset, this is when there’s trouble actually falling asleep in the first place! This can be caused by a number of things including how you’re spending your time during the day but we’ll get back into that in a bit! The last two types of insomnia are “Maintenance Insomnia” and Behavioral Insomnia of Childhood”. Sleep-Maintenance Insomnia, is when you wake up during the night and struggle to fall back asleep – most commonly due to stress. BHC Insomnia is diagnosed in children who have difficulty falling asleep, staying sleep, or both after being diagnosed with a related behavioral cause.
Sometimes Insomnia can be cured by identifying the type and taking action by making life changes. Some cases are caused by factors that take place during the day; like stress or what you eat. In these instances, it’s time to be self aware and listen to what your body is telling you it needs. For some of you, therapy may be an answer. Stress, trauma, depression and more are all conditions that deserve professional attention. You would see a doctor if you were physically sick right? Lets do the same for our brains and unload some of those built up emotions and everything else that comes along with healing. In other situations, your issue could be diet. Did you know that some of our favorite “bedtime snacks” are probably aiding to our anti-snooze? Cheese, ice cream, chips, and even spicy foods are all known to keep us awake. Fighting the results of Tyramine and Capsaicin (uhh.. google?) the answer is simple! SWAP YOUR SNACKS! Even though they might not be your favorite munchie go-to’s, try out things like almonds, cherries, and bananas! Honorable mention, honey is also helpful for catching Z’s!!
Last thing we thought we’d talk about are ways you can change your environment and routine to assist in a more restful sleep. A few ideas that come to mind are 1.) Getting 30 minutes – 1 hour’s worth of exercise in every day, even if its just a walk around the neighborhood! 2.) Clean yourself and your space! 3.) Aromatherapy! We love that last one, did you know that having a lavender plant in your bedroom has been proven to lower heart rates, blood pressure and stress levels! All important for getting restful sleep. Inhalation of lavender increases the percentage of slow-wave (deep) sleep, the scent interacts with the neurotransmitter GABA to help quiet the brain and nervous system activity, reducing agitation, anger, aggression, and restlessness. Enough with the science! Head out to the stores this Self Care Saturday and grab yourself some cherries and lavender! Stay tuned for when we go even deeper on the topic of Lavender! Sweet dreams & Good Night Friends!
FEEL GOOD RVA 