sleep

[Clay Keilach]

Has insomnia tortured you to the point where you are looking into sleep aids? If so you are definitely not alone, it is estimated that more than 35 million Americans suffer from long term insomnia and require a sleep aids to get the sleep they need to function. Unfortunately in many cases sleep aids actually impair function, and leave the user worse off than before he or she began to use them. Benzodiazepines like Xanax, as well as non-benzodiazepine sleep aids like Ambien carry with them life-disrupting side effects. Before resorting to prescription sleep aids there are lifestyle changes you can try; cut down on coffee and cigarettes, especially before bedtime. Flipping your mattress, adjusting room temperature and trying to drown out noise can all be used in place of sleep aids. If those don't work the next step should be herbal sleep aids which provide relief without side effects, addiction or overdose. Herbal sleep aids are more effective that a lot of people give them credit for. Only after you have tried all of these or determined that the insomnia is caused by a serious physical problem should you consider prescription sleep aids.

If you are thinking of using Ativan think again! Even by the standards of other prescription drugs it is dangerous, and people using Ativan require constant monitoring of kidney and liver function to ensure that it is not causing permanent damage to the body. Ativan is prescribed all too often, both for anxiety and sleep problems, but the prescription of a pharmaceutical drug like Ativan makes the assumption that your anxiety and sleeping problems are being caused by a chemical imbalance when there are many other factors which could be affecting you. Before resorting to the use of Ativan or another benzodiazepine you should try a combination of lifestyle changes, relaxation techniques, cognitive therapy and/or herbal remedies. All of these are obviously side effect and dependency free methods of dealing with anxiety and insomnia, whereas Ativan can lead to addiction, dependency and permanent damage to the body.

There are sleep disorders like sleep apnea which have definite physical causes, and then there are sleep disorders like onset insomnia which are caused by psychological factors. The second category of sleep disorders is actually more easily treated. With the use of herbal supplements sleep disorders caused by insomnia are effectively treated, though far too many people immediately go for prescription drugs. Sleep disorders do not always require these sorts of drugs, and ideally they should be reserved for only the most difficult and severe cases. Relaxation techniques, change of lifestyle and cognitive therapy can all be very effective in treating anxiety related sleep disorders. The problem with using Ambien to get to sleep is it can be hard to stop, and it can also lead to overdose if not used properly. This is because of the immediate euphoric feeling associated with it can become very addictive. For mild to moderate sleep disorders other methods should first be considered. Sweet dreams.

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