6 Mistakes That Can Keep You Up at Night

Instead of spending countless hours lying in bed counting sheep at night, take control of your sleep by learning about the common mistakes people make that sabotage their sleep cycles. There are many mistakes that people make when trying to get a good night's sleep. Instead of helping you to sleep better, these mistakes can actually decrease your chances of sleeping well and may even cause you to have more trouble falling asleep and staying asleep.

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Mistake 1: Taking a sleeping pill before trying to improve your sleep in a natural way

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People often believe that taking sleeping pills is the answer to their sleep problem. But sleeping is something that should typically come naturally. Sleeping pills can have negative side effects, including psychological and physical dependency, daytime drowsiness and other health consequences. Plus if you try to stop taking a sedative hypnotic, you will typically have worse insomnia for several days, which makes you more likely to pop a pill again when you are feeling frustrated and annoyed in the middle of the night. Research shows that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is usually the best treatment for insomnia and it doesn't carry the negative side effects that sleeping pills do.

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People often believe that taking sleeping pills is the answer to their sleep problem. But sleeping is something that should typically come naturally. Sleeping pills can have negative side effects, including psychological and physical dependency, daytime drowsiness and other health consequences. Plus if you try to stop taking a sedative hypnotic, you will typically have worse insomnia for several days, which makes you more likely to pop a pill again when you are feeling frustrated and annoyed in the middle of the night. Research shows that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is usually the best treatment for insomnia and it doesn't carry the negative side effects that sleeping pills do.

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Stephanie A. Silberman, Ph.D., FAASM, is a Licensed Psychologist who is a Fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. She served twice as president of the Broward Chapter of the Florida Psychological Association (FPA) and is currently the co-chair for FPA's Legislative Affairs and Public Policy Board. She has appeared on television news and in national magazines regarding sleep-related issues. Her recent book, The Insomnia Workbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Getting the Sleep You Need, is not only a self-help guide for people with insomnia, but also a useful reference tool for health-care professionals. Read her blog on Red Room or visit her website at http://www.sleeppsychology.com to learn more.

 

Follow Stephanie Silberman, Ph.D. on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@sleeppsycholog

Comments

[hman570]

04:51 PM on 06/25/2011

If you listen to the report that would be enough to keep me awake all night????

[rahatu]

08:34 AM on 05/29/2011

I want all mthe money you can get.Because I think you are wsting it on those põmmpead ,who cannot learn and don´t want to learn.
I REPEAT YOU CANNOT MAKE ME LIKE ;WHAT I DO NOT LIKE.
Capich!

[Kelly Jade]

10:11 AM on 05/26/2011

I like a little noise at night if I'm alone. I always have something on that I have seen before or don't need to pay attention to just to have the noise. I can't fall asleep if it's something I want to pay attention to it but if I've seen it then it's nice to have something familiar in the background.

[mathme]

10:34 PM on 05/26/2011

I have to have noise, too. I've started streaming movies or TV shows at night to help me sleep. I visited balitmore a couple years ago and stayed on a relatively busy street (relative to where I live). There was constant traffic noise, occasionally sirens, etc. and I wondered how that would affect me. You know what? It was perfect! Dead silence does NOT work for me, mainly because any single loudish noise (people putting trash in the can between my building and the one next to me gets me) wakes me up. But in a constant, even din, it can't get through.

[sabelmouse]

09:25 AM on 05/25/2011

if i didn't read before bed i'd never sleep. it helps me relax. tv and computer though are a big no no.

[Waterlooboy]

11:06 PM on 05/29/2011

I agree, reading actually helps me. When I find myself reading the same paragraph over and over I know it's time to turn out the light.

[gposner29]

05:49 AM on 05/25/2011

Solution? Buy a Tempur Pedic Bed....Sleep will no longer elude you.

[Angela Schwartz Mullaney]

08:19 PM on 06/25/2011

Sorry, I've had a Tempurpedic for 4 or 5 years now and the only two things it's done for me and my husband is made my wallet lighter and give me backaches. Don't waste you're money. They're not all they're cracked up to be. Oh, and sleep still eludes me...

[jog7]

09:50 AM on 05/24/2011

I have found that if I do not have a glass of milk during the day, I will be unable to fall asleep. Even at bedtime, if drink milk I will fall asleep.

[fancyscrubs]

05:19 AM on 05/25/2011

Will have to try that one. Also they did not mention exercise during the day? That sometimes helps too.

[Angela Schwartz Mullaney]

08:21 PM on 06/25/2011

I have been told by my doc to take a calcium supplement 1 hour before bed. The calcium chewables are easy to take,