Insomnia is a very common yet debilitating condition. Insomnia interferes with your ability to sleep well. People often take insomnia for granted which is not right. Even a single night of poor sleep is very disturbing. You feel groggy, irritated, and restless the whole day. Moreover, poor sleep affects your cognitive functions and your ability to function well throughout the day.

If one night of poor sleep has this many negative effects on your overall health and well-being. Then, think if you suffer from frequent sleep disturbances, what will be the results? And, insomnia not only affects your health. It affects your work, relationships, and several other things as well.  So, treatment of insomnia in adults is very necessary to live a quality life.

Now, you must be thinking what is the reason behind these sleep disturbances. Well, in most of the cases, stress and anxiety are noticed as the prime reason for poor sleep. However, in some people underlying health issues can also be the cause of insomnia.

Depending on the causes of insomnia, plenty of treatment methods are there for insomnia. Consult the doctor, he/she will help you find the right treatment plan for your issues. This article will give you a thorough knowledge of different methods to cope with insomnia.

Various methods for the treatment of insomnia in adults

Living with insomnia is very uncomfortable and disturbing. You must fix your sleep issues and get better sleep to live a healthy and quality life. Plenty of treatment methods are available in the market for insomnia. It depends on several factors which method will work for you which are:

·         your age

·         severity of insomnia

·         medical condition

Lifestyle hacks to treat insomnia

Make a sleep schedule and follow it strictly. Try to sleep and wake up at the same time daily, even on weekends.

Make your bedroom environment sleep-promoting. Block the noise and lights and keep the temperature low while going to bed. Along with that, get quality and comfortable mattresses and bedding.

Keep all electronic gadgets like smartphones, tablets, laptops, and TVs out of the bedroom. Reserve your bedroom only for sleep and sex, don’t work or eat there. Stop using these devices at least an hour before going to bed because they emit blue light which is a stimulant like caffeine. That’s why, it is known as an “electronic version of caffeine” and it will keep you awake for a long.

Daytime napping is good only when it is short or quick. So, either avoid daytime napping or take a nap only for 20-30 minutes. Take a nap after lunch not in the evening as it will disturb your sleep routine.

Cut off or limit smoking, alcohol, and caffeine consumption. Moreover, avoid eating oily food or heavy meals at dinner because such food will take time to get absorbed.

Relaxation methods and medications for the treatment of insomnia in adults

Practice stretching, read novels, and listen to soothing music before going to bed. Along with that taking a warm shower wears off the whole day’s fatigue and helps to sleep well.

Practice regular exercise and physical activities like swimming or dancing. These activities will lead to the secretion of endorphin, the feel-good hormone. It boosts your mood, makes you feel better, and helps you get better sleep.

Use aromatherapy and massage therapy to treat insomnia and get better sleep. Because both these help in relieving stress and anxiety which are the main reasons for causing insomnia.

Besides these, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) also works great for insomnia and anxiety. It is one of the most effective methods to treat insomnia.

Medications for the treatment of insomnia in adults

If you are suffering from insomnia, the doctor may prescribe some medications to fix it. Your doctor may suggest you take these medications alone or along with the above-mentioned methods as well. Sleep medications treat insomnia well, but don’t use them for a long time.

Benzodiazepines: Benzodiazepines mainly treat anxiety and related disorders. But they also work great for insomnia and other sleep disorders. They slow down brain activity and make you less alert. They induce sedation and drowsiness to make you fall asleep. Moreover, they also enhance the activity of GABA neurotransmitters in the brain. GABA has a calming effect on the brain so, it calms your nerves, reduces anxiety, and helps in falling asleep. Benzodiazepines that treat sleep issues are:

·         Xanax

·         Diazepam

·         Lorazepam

·         Clonazepam

Z-drugs: They are non-benzodiazepines, but are more effective than benzodiazepines for insomnia. The action mechanism of z-drugs is similar to benzodiazepines. They also slow down brain activity and help you fall asleep. Zopiclone and Zolpidem are the two most commonly used Z-drugs to treat sleep disorders.