Suffering with INSOMNIA? Here's 12 CAUSES
+ dozens of EASY solutions
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Everyone experiences difficulty falling asleep sometimes. But, some people seem to be habitually unable to easily fall asleep. Apart from medical disorders such as sleep apnea, there are at least 12 different reasons why people experience chronic or occasional insomnia
When you fall asleep your brain cycles through 3 different brain wave levels over the course of about 90 minutes. During normal sleep, you do this at least 3-4 times a night: Alpha-->Theta-->Delta-->Alpha-->Theta-->Delta. As you switch from Delta back up to Alpha cycle, your brain becomes more alert and you may then wake up or need to go to the bathroom
When you are awake and alert, conscious thought produces Beta brain waves oscillating at 12-14 cycles per second. But, as you fall asleep, brain waves decrease. Alpha brain waves occur during dream state and when you are doing something involving your senses, emotions or creativity. This creative state helps you resolve the day’s issues and solve problems
Alpha brain waves are in absolute harmony with the earth's own frequencies. So, this sleep phase is critical for your emotional balance and mental wellbeing. Actually oscillating through four short stages, alpha brain waves de-code the Delta state
Delta occurs in deepest sleep or when in a trance. During this time your body repairs and regenerates itself both physically and psychologically. Delta is so deep that you do not hear noises and won't wake up if, for example, there was a fire
During Delta sleep, most cellular regeneration takes place, so this phase is critical to your health. But, when you take sleeping pills, your brain falls into a deep sleep and you do not experience all brain wave cycles, especially the dream phase. That is why you wake up groggy and don’t feel truly well-rested
1) The most common cause of insomnia is chronic or habitual stress. Stress triggers your body's natural fight-or-flight response, prompting the release of adrenaline and cortisol to prepare you for immediate action. But, if the body is releasing adrenaline and cortisol, it will be in a hyper-vigilant state, and you won't be able to sleep. It will be like drinking several cups of coffee before bedtime
Especially now, everyone is experiencing much greater stress and insecurity due to news media reports, isolation, and civil unrest. No one feels safe. So it is no wonder that so many people are experiencing insomnia
Stress occurs when you feel overwhelmed. The problem feels bigger than you. Adrenaline releases during arguments, excitement, or whenever you are feeling unsafe. The most common reason for hyper-adrenal release is watching TV, movies or the news. While movies and TV shows may not be real, your brain can’t tell the difference and will prompt stress neuropeptides when you see upsetting or scary scenes. Your body and mind remain in an elevated alert state, making it difficult to fall asleep
Adrenaline is also prompted by the consumption of stimulants such as coffee, sugar, and sweets. Paradoxically, sugar and coffee cravings increase during times of stress as an instinctive way to gain energy. Sugar is a neurotoxin. In addition to insomnia, it can cause muscle cramping and spasms and restless leg syndrome, which prevent sleep
Avoid coffee, juice, and sweets, particularly in the evening, and take a ‘negativity diet’ by avoiding dramas and violent or thrilling television programs or movies and news reports. This will help calm adrenal response
Try one of our stress-relieving essence fusions
If the cause of stress and insecurity is a workplace, home or family situation, appropriate essences such as DIVORCE HEAL, SERENITY, EMPOWERMENT, OR SUPPORT maybe the best solution
2) Believe it or not, the next most common cause of insomnia is insufficient fiber in the diet. Studies have shown that increasing dietary fiber by at least 25% can often alleviate insomnia. A couple of bran muffins each day or a dose of magnesium at bedtime can actually help you sleep!
3) Certain mineral deficiencies can also cause insomnia. In particular electrolytes magnesium, calcium, and potassium are important in relaxing muscles, reducing edema, and aiding digestion, which contributes significantly to better sleep. Potassium deficiency can cause anxiety and heart arrhythmia because the cells cannot exchange fluids and are therefore literally starving or suffocating. Magnesium is a natural relaxant. It helps to prevent muscle spasms and leg cramping, as well as aiding in peristalsis (intestinal function).
4) Dehydration is another cause of insomnia. Emotional toxins release from your cells via lymph fluids. You need water both in cells and in lymph fluids. If you don't drink sufficient water, you are holding onto emotions unnecessarily
Increase water consumption throughout the day. Paradoxically this will also help to reduce oedema by flushing the lymph system. Drinking a glass of water before retiring at night can often help you fall asleep more readily and helps prevent heart attack
5) Pain is a powerful inhibitor of sleep, whether from an injury, toothache, chronic throbbing from inflammation such as arthritis, or an uncomfortable bed and pillow. Lack of sleep from pain or discomfort inhibits your body’s ability to heal and regenerate
Enlightened Feelings offers 3 topical pain relief remedies and many other self-healing essences formulas
6) Ever notice how you sleep better when out in fresh air for a few hours? Lack of exercise and activity results in too much nervous energy. How can you sleep if you have not exhausted pent-up energy? Exercise prompts the release of endorphins which are powerful natural opiates that relieve pain and induce profound relaxation. When you can’t get outside, supplement with Vitamins C & D and kelp
7) Poor quality of sleep occurs when there are sleep disturbances in the environment, such as pets on the bed or in the bedroom, a partner who snores, lights shining into the bedroom, noise, or traffic passing by. These are factors that can only change by a pro-active decision on your part
8) Inharmonious feng shui may also be a factor. Feng Shui is the art of creating health and harmony in your environment via subliminal messages
For example, the bedroom should be in the back of the home to create a feeling of safety and security. If a bedroom door or window is left open it can create a feeling of insecurity or lack of safety, as can improper positioning of the bed. For example, when laying in bed, the feet should not point toward the door, but, the bed should be in a commanding position, where you can clearly see the entrance into the bedroom from the bed
The bed should not lie between a window and the doorway. Energy/wind moves between these two portals, and that can disturb sleep. Also, you should not be able to see into any mirror when laying in bed, as it can startle you as you wake up, or make you feel someone else is present
Your bed should be your most careful purchase, as you literally spend 1/3 of your life in bed. Your bed and bed linens should be perfectly comfortable, spacious, and welcoming so that you actually relish going to bed
9) Your body needs the rhythms of daylight and night to function properly. Light in the bedroom fools your brain into thinking it is daytime and you need to be awake. Light stimulates the pituitary and thyroid glands, affecting circadian rhythms, which then disrupts production of seratonin and hormones
Serotonin and melatonin are neurotransmitters that help to trigger sleep. They are tied to your body’s circadian rythm which is oriented to the 24 hour day/night cycle. About two hours after sundown your body naturally wants to go to sleep. Temperatures cool in the evening. As temperatures drop it is another signal to your brain to go to sleep. The opposite occurs in the AM, due to light from sunrise and warming temperatures
So, try to adhere to retiring for bed about 2-2.5 hours after sunset. Lower the thermostat by about 4° at least an hour before bedtime, and program it to increase the ambient temperature 1/2 hour before arising in the morning. To ensure activation of melatonin, allow no lights whatsoever to filter into the bedroom at night, whether from a window, clock, television, or cell phone, or from a night light. Light signals the brain to stay active and keeps you awake. So, remove night lights and use black-out curtains in your bedroom!
10) EMF radiation has become a real problem in the bedroom. Electromagnetic fields cause a stress response in the body, prompting the release of adrenaline and cortisol. This is akin to having a cup of coffee before bedtime—except that it is much more detrimental to your health. The majority of cellular regeneration takes place during deepest sleep, so your body should be protected from stress factors of any kind
Major offenders are televisions, cell phones, and computers. It's not enough to turn these items off. Remove them from the bedroom. If you don't want to remove these items, then purchase EMF shields to neutralize EMF radiation emitted by your devices
Enlightened Feelings offers EMF Shield flower frequency remedy as a effective way to dissolve stressful static in the energy field caused by EMF radiation. It also can act as a stress-relief remedy to help you sleep
11) The most overlooked cause for sleep deprivation is a lack of vitamin D, which is derived from sunlight. For proper brain function you need both proper nutrients and at least two hours of sunlight directly on the retina of the eyes. In addition you also need at least one half hour of sunlight on the fatty areas of the skin in order for your metabolism to produce vitamin D. (Since sunlight is a fat-soluble vitamin, it requires that fatty parts of your body are exposed to sunlight in order for the vitamin D to be absorbed and utilized)
If you can't expose your skin to natural sunlight, a vitamin D supplement of at least 4000 IU’s is required each day. To absorb and utilize vitamin D3 you must take it either with animal fat in your food, or a fish-based Omega 3/6/9 supplement
12) Many people are unable to ‘turn off their brain’ at bedtime. Thinking and worrying sets in. One way to circumvent this is to write a list each day detailing what you need to do the following day. In this way your brain can relax knowing that the next day’s planning is already done
You may need to send your self subliminal messages that this is a place of rest and restoration. Soft pillows, cozy blankets, low lighting, beautiful colors—these things create a space for relaxation. Use warm dark colors on the walls. The bedroom should never be used as a workplace or place for entertainment. Nor should it be 'busy' or cluttered
Remove the television, computer, books, and any work-related materials from your bedroom. Work-related objects send subliminal messages to your brain to keep alert for working and planning. Your thoughts are unable to quiet down and remain in the moment
Clear all clutter--even in drawers and closets. Clutter sends a silently scolding message that you still have unfinished business and work to do. Clutter prevents your brain from functioning in an organized manner, and that results in stress and constipation
Another way to take your brain out of logical mode is to do something creative before bedtime. Creativity shifts your brain into alpha state, as does meditation or listening to new age or classical music. It opens you to the first stage of sleep
If that fails, try Enlightened Feelings STRESS BUSTER! nightly at bedtime. 3 spritzes of STRESS BUSTER! in the mouth and one on each shoulder will relax tense neck muscles, help you to stay in the moment, and stop mental chatter
Or try our natural sleep support remedy RESTFUL. RESTFUL gently trains your brain to cycle properly though all 4 brain wave cycles during sleep so that you awaken rested and refreshed. See more stress-relieving essence fusions
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