Why Can't You Sleep?
The lights are off, the phone is off, and you're laying there in complete darkness. You're exhausted at the end of the day, so you should be able to close your eyes and drift off into slumber, right? Unfortunately, for those who suffer from sleep problems, such as insomnia, that's seldom the case. What's worse is, not getting enough sleep creates a seemingly endless cycle of more sleep issues. It's essential to look into some of the causes of sleep problems.
Stress And Anxiety
The cycle of sleep issues mentioned earlier is caused by stress. Think of this cycle: you can’t sleep, so you spend your day stressed and tired. However, that stress makes it impossible to sleep later regardless of how exhausted you are. The racing thoughts in your head from any anxiety or stress (related to work, relationships, etc.) can keep you awake no matter how weak your physical body is.
Pain
If you suffer from acute or chronic pain, then it's understandable why your body gives you a difficult time when you're trying to relax. Unfortunately, that same cycle of insomnia comes back into play when it comes to pain because sleep is when your body has the best opportunity to repair itself. Everything from your muscles and organs down
to your individual cells undergoes a state of repair that can aid in pain relief. However, if the body isn't getting the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep a night, then the pain will persist (or even worsen) because the body doesn't have a chance to go into maintenance mode.
Food
Believe it or not, the food and drink we put into our body can positively or negatively affect our sleep cycle. It’s no secret that caffeine too close to bedtime will trigger insomnia. It’s best to avoid energy drinks or caffeinated coffee five hours before bedtime. While some may tell you to eat certain foods to increase tryptophan levels before bed, it’s not recommended to eat right before bedtime. You don’t want your body digesting food when you’re trying to sleep because that should be when your major organ systems shut down for the night and have time to rest themselves.
Trying to take care of any of these issues may help you improve your sleep quality. Of course, it's always recommended to talk with your doctor if you believe other issues affect your ability to sleep. They may point you in the direction of over-the-counter sleep aids if your issue doesn't warrant conventional medication.
If you prefer to try some natural methods here are some of our Favourites!
Snooze 10ml Essential Oil Blend: