Wondering why you’re having trouble falling asleep?
We all experience a night of restless sleep where we toss and turn and stare at the clock wondering just how much sleep we’ll actually get if we were to fall asleep at that very moment; however, when restless sleep becomes the norm, you could be dealing with a sleep disorder known as insomnia. This is a common problem that brings many people into our office to see how our Bradenton, FL, sleep medicine specialist Dr. Jeremy McConnell can help them get better sleep.
If you are experiencing insomnia, it may be due to,
Stress
It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that stress can affect the quality of your sleep. From experiencing a death in the family to dealing with a job you hate, these are common stressors that could keep you up at night. If you find yourself crawling into bed with worry, racing thoughts or anxiety, then stress could be to blame. It’s important to find ways to manage stress whether through counseling, support groups, meditation or breathing practices.
Sleep Schedule Irregularities
Our body’s internal clock, called the circadian rhythm, helps us to wake up in the morning and fall asleep at night; however, if our body’s internal clock is off you may be having trouble falling asleep. Jet lag and night shift work are the two most common types of irregular sleep schedules that can throw off your circadian rhythm. If you travel regularly for work or if you are a night-shift worker you may wish to talk with our Bradenton, FL, sleep doctor to find out ways to improve the quality of your sleep.
Bad Habits
You’ve probably heard the term “sleep hygiene”. Just as you practice good oral hygiene in order to keep teeth and gums healthy you also have to have good habits and practices around sleep. Here are some habits to adopt for better sleep:
- Do not eat about three hours before going to bed
- Only use your bed for sleep
- Wind down in the evening and avoid mentally stimulating work or activities
- Power down electronics about 2-3 hours before sleep
- Avoid napping in the afternoon, particularly if you have trouble sleeping at night
- Go to bed at the same time every night and get up at the same time every day (even on weekends)
Don’t let insomnia rob you of the sleep you deserve. Dr. McConnell and his sleep medicine team here in Bradenton, FL, can help. Simply call Florida Sleep Specialists at (941) 792-8383 and let us know that you are dealing with insomnia. We would be happy to schedule an evaluation for you.