Fast Insomnia Cure

Review of SleepTracks

Sunday 24 Jan 2010 by admin | 13 Comments
Filed under: Can't Sleep, Hypnosis, Insomnia, Sleep, Sleep Disorder

SleepTracks was recommended to me by a friend at work, they had noticed I looked like death every morning and had worked out I have real trouble sleeping.

We took a look at the Sleep tracks website and I filled out the 7 multi-choice questions, the answers were quite interesting so I decided to give it a go.

I filled out the form for a $4.95 two week trial and was sent the 3 x audio guides + a manual that I was able to download straight away. I scanned through the first few pages of the manual and loaded the audio on to my mp3 player...

The three audio tracks are split into different areas:

1. Insomnia Buster - This is a guide to clearing your mind in preparation for sleeping, it has some great tips on turning down the volume inside. One of my favourite tips was to write down everything that you are thinking about when you're in bed. Now you know it won't be forgotten you can "let them go until morning".

2. Fall Asleep - This track focused on tuning your body to enter the sleepy state as fast as possible, it's quite relaxing so don't be surprised if you nod off early when you're listening to this.

3. Whole Night - Now that your off to sleep you want to stay there! Some great advice on staying asleep all night long, this was by far my favourite part of the course.

Bonus Books - There were a few bonus books & audio tracks on power napping and reducing anxiety but I haven't got around to them just yet so I will post an update when I do.

Overall I think the course was great, if you want some more information check it out here: official sleep tracks website

If you do try out sleep tracks be sure to leave a review below!

Childhood Insomnia

Wednesday 27 Jan 2010 by admin | No Comments
Filed under: Can't Sleep, Hypnosis, Insomnia, Sleep Disorder Tags: teen insomnia, teenage insomnia

Sleep Disorder and Teenagers

There is a sleep disorder that affects between seven to ten percent of teenagers called Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder, also known as DNS. Most teenagers outgrow this disorder by the time they reach young adulthood. Less then one percent of adults are believed to have DSP. Often people mistake this sleep disorder for insomnia.

Left on their own, people with delayed sleep phase disorder would stay up until very late, sometimes until 4 or 5 a.m. They like to get up very late in the morning or early afternoon. Often they are referred to as night owls.

Many teenagers like to stay up late and sleep late in the morning. Sometimes this is because they want to socialize at that time of the day. However, it can also be due to the natural delay in the circadian sleep / wake rhythm at their age of development.

Teenagers with this sleep disorder often have a very hard time getting up in the morning for school. Even if they go to sleep at a regular time, such as 11 p.m., they toss and turn for hours like someone with insomnia. They difference is, unlike an insomniac, people with delayed sleep phase disorder have no difficulty staying asleep. They do have a very difficult time getting up early in the morning. Teenagers with this sleep disorder are very tired during the day and may even fall asleep in the classroom. The exact cause of this sleep disorder is not known. It is known for certain that it is a circadian rhythm problem.

Treatment for this sleep disorder is available for people that need to get onto a more traditional sleep / wake schedule. The types of treatment include, bright light, chronotherapy, melatonin and over- the-counter prescribed sleeping pills.

Bright light treatment for delayed sleep phase disorder uses bright light to trick the brain's circadian clock . Exposure to bright light shifts the circadian rhythm if it is administered within a few hours of the body's lowest temperature at night.

Using chronotherapy as a treatment for someone with delayed sleep phase disorder requires a block of time one week long. Each day bedtime is delayed by three hours successively. For example, for someone that falls asleep at 2 a.m. but wants to fall asleep at 11. p.m., their bedtime would move to 5 a.m. on the first day. The next day it would move to 8 a.m. and continue this cycle for a week. A teenager suffering with delayed sleep phase disorder would need a week off from school in order to complete this therapy. Once the desired bed time is reached it is very important to keep a consistent wake up time.

There are several treatments involving various drugs that are used to treat delayed sleep phase disorder. Melatonin has been successful in changing the sleep cycle of people with this sleep disorder. Prescription medication such as Ramelteon, and other sleeping pills, have been successful in treating teenagers and adults with delayed sleep phase disorder.

If your teenager has trouble falling asleep and always wants to stay up late, be aware of the possibility that a sleep disorder may be present.

Sleep Disorder and Teenagers

If your teenager has trouble falling asleep and always wants to stay up late, be aware of the possibility that a sleep disorder may be present.

Natural Cure For Insomnia

Sunday 24 Jan 2010 by admin | No Comments
Filed under: Can't Sleep, Insomnia, Sleep

Insomnia troubles a large part of the population. This sleeping disorder can affect the productivity of the person and can also affect their lifestyle. Others may say that the inability to sleep is a disease. But this is not the case if we are to believe the health professionals out there. Insomnia for them is symptom that reflects a deeper problem.

Drugs and medications are often the first choice for those looking to treat this sleeping disorder. But the issue with these medications is that there are some attendant side effects. For this reason, a check with the physician should be done. Because of the many safety and health issues, other treatment options are seen by health professionals as the safer way to address insomnia.

To be more exact, they are looking at some top natural cures for insomnia. There are two major reasons why people are rushing to this treatment option. One reason focuses on the cost, since the natural cures are cheaper than the medications. And the second reason is linked to the relative absence of side effects coming from natural cures for insomnia.

These two major reasons make sufferers agree that the best way to go is the road going to natural cures for insomnia. Now there are a number of tips that can allow you to go the natural way.

Your top natural approaches that can serve as cures for insomnia

Check these natural approaches to a more stress-free way of inducing sleep when sleep matters:

· Aromatherapy is an important option that needs to be considered by the sufferer. Health professionals are saying that this is one of the most effective treatment options available. Some of the things that can be used in your aromatherapy session include the essential oil, the candles and the scents. The scents that are used in many aromatherapy sessions are often made from herbs like the chamomile and the passion flower. Both these herbs are known for their sleep-inducing capabilities.

· A healthy bath before going to bed can also help. The bath that can be used here is no ordinary bath. The water that to be used should be warm and these may contain herbal oils. The combination of warm water and herbs will not only cleanse the body but will also relax and the body and gear the body to sleep.

· Sound therapy. Others are saying that music can relax the mind and in the process can induce sleep. Soothing music should be selected in order to relax and soothe the mind.

· Herbs and herbal-based products can induce sleep. When it comes to the connection between herbs and insomnia, the name valerian will always come into discussion. It is said that the valerian root will provide a natural cure to a person's insomnia.

· It also pays to make the bedroom clutter-free, clean and conducive to sleeping.

These are just some of your top natural cures for insomnia, and there are a number of other approaches out there. Ask your physician for a better understanding of these approaches to be on the safe side.

Insomnia Rising in USA

Sunday 24 Jan 2010 by admin | No Comments
Filed under: Can't Sleep

Sleep Disorder - A Growing Concern in the United States

In the United States alone, it is estimated that approximately 60 - 80 million people have some form of sleep disorder. This number continues to rise. Several of the reasons for the increasing numbers are the aging of the American population, the change in our lifestyle and the obesity epidemic. Of course there are other factors that can lead to a sleep disorder, such as, stress, shift work, illness or genetics.

There are more than 100 different types of sleep disorders. They range in severity from minor to life threatening. People of any age, from infants to the aged, can be affected by a sleep disorder at any time of their lives.

As sleep disorders increase in the United States, so do the dangers that are associated with them.
Tiredness can lead to slower mental alertness and a slower reaction time. This can be a very dangerous combination. Between 20 - 25% of all serious vehicular accidents involve a tired driver. Many of these drivers suffer from some form of sleep disorder and may not even be aware of it. A large number of accidents that occur at home or at work are also due to people with some type of sleeping problem. Sleep disorder, combined with the cost of the accidents and illnesses it causes, results in the American people and the government spending billions of dollars.

Lack of sleep is directly related to many physical ailments and conditions. People that do not get sufficient sleep generally suffer more form headaches, sore joints and stomach problems. Often a sleep disorder is an underlying cause of heart problems, lung conditions and diabetes. Sleep disorders can also affect the mental well being of people stricken with them. Mood changes, anxiety, eating disorders and depression can result.

Many people still do not think of a sleeping problem as a medical problem. Because of this, many never tell their physician that they are having a problem with sleep. Even if they see their doctor on a regular basis for an illness or condition, they never mention their difficulty sleeping.

As the American public and medical community become more educated and aware of the symptoms, effects and severity of various sleep disorders, more and more cases are being diagnosed. Sufferers are being treated with medication, oxygen, cpap machines and even surgery. There are better screening methods and diagnostic tests which find sleep disorder problems earlier. Overnight sleep centers no longer resemble a hospital room. They are now designed to look more like a hotel room, to make the patient feel more comfortable. In some cases, due to computerization and miniaturization, equipment can be so small that some testing can even be done at home.

Sleep is not an option or a luxury. It is a basic element of living and of good health. If you think you, your partner or your child may be suffering from a sleep disorder see your physician. A sleep disorder is a medical problem that can be helped.

Treating Insomnia

Sunday 24 Jan 2010 by admin | No Comments
Filed under: Can't Sleep, Insomnia, Sleep, Sleep Disorder

Medications Used for the Sleep Disorder of Chronic Insomnia

People that suffer from the sleep disorder of chronic insomnia must decide whether or not they are going to take a sleep medication. This decision is usually made with their physician. Many people decide to take a sleeping pill because it offers relief from the symptoms of their sleep disorder and the extreme sleepiness they are always feeling. Taking a pill can improve how they fell and also the quality of their life. However, many people worry about the side effects and health risks that come with taking sleeping pills. Sleeping pills are among the most widely used drugs in the United States, and their use continues to increase.

The types of sleep medications that are available to people with insomnia fall into two categories, prescription and over-the-counter medications. Each sleep medication affects the body differently. The effectiveness of the sleeping pill is a major factor when dealing with sufferers of this sleep disorder. How quickly the pill will take effect and how long the effect will last are very important. The effect should match the individual's sleep problem. The fast acting drugs would benefit a person who has difficulty falling asleep while a longer lasting pill would better benefit someone who has difficulty staying asleep.
Other important factors concerning medications for people with this sleep disorder include the impact the medication has on sleep quality, the tolerance that a person has for the drug, the possibility of developing a dependence on the drug, and the side effects associated with the drug. Each of these points has to be considered when deciding to take sleep medication for chronic insomnia.

Many over-the-counter sleep medications contain some type of antihistamine as a primary active ingredient. Antihistamines are widely used to treat allergies and they are also effective in helping people fall asleep. However, there has been little research done on their long-term effectiveness or safety.

Prescription medications for the sleep disorder of chronic insomnia are classified into four general groups: benzodiazepine receptor agonists, antidepressants, melatonin receptor agonists, and barbiturates. Each one of these drug groups has specific benefits in regards to treating insomnia. However, it is very important that the right type of for chronic insomnia medication is prescribed for each individual person with this sleep disorder.

Before choosing a sleeping medication, it is very important to determine the source of the insomnia. For example, perhaps the source of the insomnia is the result of another treatable illness, or a side effect of a medication that is taken. The insomnia is then called secondary insomnia. The focus on medication should then be on the primary illness. Often the insomnia will disappear once the underlying cause is treated.

The decision of whether or not to take sleep mediation for chronic insomnia has to be a personal decision. There is no right or wrong decision. However, it is important, if the choice is to take a medication for this sleep disorder, to become as educated as possible about the medication prescribed.

How To Treat Insomnia

Sunday 24 Jan 2010 by admin | No Comments
Filed under: Can't Sleep, Insomnia, Sleep Disorder

How to Tell If You Have a Sleep Disorder

There are many people that have an undiagnosed sleep disorder. They may feel very sleepy during the day. They may have trouble falling to sleep or staying asleep. Friends or relatives may tell them they look very tired. They may experience mood changes, irritability or become overly emotional. Often they have difficulty paying attention, concentrating, or remembering things that are important. These are all symptoms of sleep deprivation, and possibly of a sleep disorder.

A person that has an undiagnosed sleep disorder will usually answer the question, "What is the problem with your sleep," with one of five answers. Those answers will be; "I have trouble falling asleep," " I have trouble staying awake," "I can't get up in the morning," "I seem to do strange things in my sleep" or "I can't sleep because of my partner." The particular answer chosen helps to narrow down the possibility of a specific type of sleep disorder.

When someone says "I can't fall asleep" it can mean several things. There could be a problem when first going to bed, after waking up in the middle of the night, or in the early morning hours.

Many people have the problem of not being able to fall asleep when they go to bed. This is called sleep latency. Sleep latency can be a very serious symptom of certain sleep disorders, including sleep onset insomnia, delayed sleep phase disorder, shift work, restless leg syndrome or paradoxical insomnia. Many times the problem is not being able to stay asleep, which is sleep fragmentation. Often a person with this complaint can fall to sleep easily when they go to bed, but wake up often throughout the night. Sleep disorders may include sleep maintenance insomnia, shift work. If a person wakes up very early in the morning and cannot get back to sleep, it could be a sign of advanced sleep phase disorder or sleep maintenance insomnia.

If the answer to the question is "I can't stay awake" and the person is falling asleep at inappropriate times there may be a sleep disorder such as narcolepsy , obstructive or central sleep apnea, periodic limb movement disorder, restless leg syndrome, shift work or advanced sleep phase disorder.

Those that say "I can't get up in the morning" and take an hour or more to fully wake from their sleep may suffer from excessive sleep inertia. They are having difficulty making the transition from sleep to being awake. Sleep disorders that could be responsible for excessive sleep inertia are sleep apnea and delayed sleep phase disorder.

A person that answers the question with "I do strange things in my sleep" may find that their sleep is full of surprises. Sleepwalking, Sleep terrors, confusional arousals, REM sleep behavior disorder, nightmares, sleep-related eating disorder and bruxism are all types of sleep disorders known as parasomnias.

If a person answers "I can't sleep because of my partner" snoring, sleep apnea, bruxism, restless leg syndrome, or periodic limb movement disorder may be the sleep disorder to blame.

How would you answer the question of "What is the problem with your sleep?"

Home Remedies For Insomnia

Sunday 24 Jan 2010 by admin | No Comments
Filed under: Can't Sleep, Insomnia

And an Alternative Approach for Overcoming a Sleep Disorder

Having a sleep disorder can be very disruptive to everyday life. Sleep deprived people are usually excessively tired and sleepy. They tend to become irritable and very emotional. At times they become a danger, not only to themselves, but also to those around them.

Some people use alternative, natural ways to lessen the effects of their sleep disorder. Many people focus on diet and nutrition, while others use herbs and supplements. Still others believe in the positive effect of exercise, relaxation and sensory techniques, meditation or behavioral and cognitive strategies. Often people use a combination of these approaches to help alleviate the symptoms of their sleep disorder.

A healthy diet is essential for optimal energy and a restful sleep. Avoiding certain foods is as important as including others in your daily diet. Eating a wide variety of foods and drinking plenty of water will keep your body well- balanced and provide a more stable energy level. Avoiding food that is grown, treated or processed with chemicals, and limiting the amount of sugar and caffeine will also help your overall physical condition. Many foods promote a restful sleep and are helpful in relieving some of the symptoms of certain sleep disorders. Eating the proper snack before bedtime can increase natural serotonin levels. Serotonin acts as a natural sedative and is made in the body from the amino acid tryptophan. Foods that a re rich in tryptophan include chicken, turkey, cheese, cottage cheese, fish, milk, nuts, avocados and bananas.

Many people use herbs and natural supplements as an alternative approach to treating their sleep disorder. There are many nutritional supplements and herbal products on the market. It is important to know how a specific product acts on the body as well as on the specific sleep disorder.. For example many people with restless leg syndrome have an iron or folic acid deficiency. Taking an iron supplement may alleviate some of the symptoms of RLS. Many herbs are well known for promoting a natural sleep. A clamming tea of chamomile or lemon balm can be very relaxing to many people that suffer from a sleep disorder.

Exercise and relaxation techniques, whether used alone or together, can reduce stress and muscle tension. Many people that use these techniques to lessen the symptoms of a sleep disorder do these before going to bed. They not only ease physical tension but they calm the mind and prepare the body to sleep. These techniques include mindful exercise, progressive muscle relaxation, breathing exercises and yoga.

Meditation and visualization are also used by some sufferers of sleep disorders to calm the body before sleep. Two common forms of mediation are meditation on the breath and mantra meditation. Both of these types can have a positive effect on relieving stress and calming the body. Many people focus their energy on a healing visualization as a method of alternative therapy for their sleep disorder.

Sensory techniques that people use to lessen the symptoms of their sleep disorder are hydrotherapy, and aroma therapy. The two main techniques included in hydrotherapy, which means water therapy, are relaxing in an Epsom salt bath and a lymph stimulating footbath. Aroma therapy includes the use of therapeutic essential oils in baths, massage oils, room sprays, and simple inhalants.

Alternative behavioral and cognitive strategies used to combat the symptoms of a sleep disorder include improving a person's sleep hygiene, stimulus control therapy and journal writing.

Alternative practices and techniques can help many types of sleep disorders. Often they are used in conjunction with traditional medication and practices.

Natural Remedy For Insomnia

Sunday 24 Jan 2010 by admin | No Comments
Filed under: Can't Sleep, Sleep, Sleep Disorder Tags: natural remedy

In this fast moving world, everything is to be done in minutes, at the same time there is an increase in the amount of stress and pressure on each individual. As a result we are not able to spend time with our family mates and are not able to take a deep sleep.

Insomnia is a stage where one cannot sleep well and stays awake for a long time. As a result, it might affect the health condition of an individual, greatly.

There are several remedies for insomnia. Herbal treatment is one of the best methods of treatment as it has no any side effects. There are several herbal remedy for insomnia.

Taking drugs may leave you in allergies and hence we advice you to take herbal treatment. Herbal treatment not only gives you sleep but also relaxes your nervous system. You can take chamomile flower powder along with your tea, which makes you to calm down and helps you to sleep.

Hops is an excellent herb that gives great sleep. You can add it to your food and take it or else make a preparation of tea with some spoons of hops and cup of water and allow it to boil for five minutes and then have it. Kava is another herb which is sedative and an analgesic medicine that makes a person to relax.

The lactones of kava calms down the nervous system and reduces the mental pressure. Lemon balm herb is an antibacterial and antiviral property and also has some sedating properties that makes us to take a good nap. This herb also refreshes our nervous system. This drug also helps to relive from anxiety and depression.

Passion flower has a fabulous medical value that eases our muscles and reduces anxiety. It also lowers the blood pressure and thereby it also reduces the mental stress. This is an excellent herb that relives us from mental as well as physical stress. This is fantastic drug for treating chronic insomnia.

Rooibos is an herb that contains 37 natural antioxidants and various vitamins and mineral, which helps greatly in reducing the blood pressure and it is one of the important herbs that is used to prevent heart attack. This is used to ease the nervous system and makes us to have a sound sleep. The oil that is extracted from St. John's is a fantastic medicine to get rid of insomnia.

We can use this oil to have full body massage for 15 - 20 minutes. Then a bath in warm water will relive us greatly form mental and physical stress and makes your mind fresh, also it makes us to have sound sleep. Skullcap which is extracted from the herb Scutellaria is one of the best nurturing tonic that is used for healthier nerve functioning and it is very supportive at stress full times.

It is a wonderful herb that is used get rid of nervous stress, agitation, exhaustion, depression, and heart palpitations. The root of the valerian has sedative properties, it reduces the time taken to fall asleep, and it greatly reduces the tension.

Panic Attacks While Driving

Sunday 24 Jan 2010 by admin | No Comments
Filed under: Hypnosis

Did you ever get lightheaded, with sweaty palms, dizzy and with your heart pumping adrenaline like an overdosed drug addict, suddenly while you're in your car driving?

Panic Attack While Driving is a relatively common form of anxiety panic attack. It's spreading more and more in the recent years, and sadly it touches younger and younger people as well.

There are two types of things you can do regarding panic attacks while driving

Avoid Panic Attacks while driving
Deal with Panic Attacks while driving

As you might guess, the first type is the one you should be aiming for.
Here are a couple of things you might want to do, to avoid anxiety attacks while driving. Not having it in the first place is thousand times better than having to deal with it once it's there, don't you agree?

If you have a CD you enjoy listening to, put it on while you're driving, and simply relax and enjoy it
Have some fruit or light snack with you whenever you are driving, so you can give your body something else to do besides pumping you full with adrenaline.

Avoid thinking about driving. Take your mind off it. Think about the scenery ahead and around you. Think of pleasant thoughts, things to look forward to later on during the day.

Now let's say the panic attack is about to grip you, based on the symptoms that you already know that come with the attack. So what can you do NOW?

If you can, pull your car over. And if you can, get out of your car and take some deep and slow breath to clear your lungs and fill them with fresh air. If you can't get out of the car because of the road specifics, just open the window, lean out a bit and take that full breath of fresh air.

Make sure you have a bottle of water with you. You can always sip a bit, or if you have some anxiety pills, although I really seldom recommend them, well, now it might be a good time to pop one in your mouth.

These pills are usually a fast, quick fix. Just make sure they won't interfere with your driving afterwards!
Use positive affirmations over and over again. Something like: - "I am calm, alert and in full control while driving." should work just fine.
Besides these tips, there are a few more things you can do about Panic Attacks While Driving. And if you want to never have to suffer panic attacks while driving again (imagine the relief!), there are things you can do to Cure your panic attack while driving once and for all!

Herbal Remedies For Insomnia

Sunday 24 Jan 2010 by admin | No Comments
Filed under: Insomnia, Sleep Disorder Tags: herbal remedies