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INSOMNIA

Many people with eating distress don’t spent enough time asleep in bed. Too many tend to think that sleep is a waste of time, or that they have too many other ‘more important’ things to do instead. That kind of thinking leads to severe sleep deprivation, and is likely to impact their health.
A good sleep is an important as good nutrition. It is vital for body to rejuvenates, regenerates and undertake essential repair. Sleep needs vary from person to person.

Lack of sleep makes us old, can bring diabetes, high blood pressure and overeating
(Chicago University study).

Sleep deprivation leads to some significant reduction in functioning, particularly concentration, memory, well-being, copying and motivation.

Depression can be caused by depriving normal people of just two hours less sleep than they need to feel good for as few as five nights.

Sleep deprivation causes malnutrition, headaches, and gastrointestinal and muscular pain. Pain increases significantly as sleep decreases.

When people are deprived of sleep, the body is not able to defend itself against invasion by bacteria, viruses, and other microorganism, and illness or infection can result.

Sleep problems have impact on thyroid and growth hormones, which are necessary for repair of body tissues.
The nervous system changes that occur with inadequate sleep can be tremors, and deep tendon reflexes.

What helps?

- Improving sleep hygiene
- Identifying and dealing with the stressors
- Behaviour reconditioning
- Progressive muscle relaxation
- Herbal remedies

Camomile – the soothing tea is important medicinally for its sedative properties. It is active mainly in the digestive system, and is a homeopathic treatment for complaints caused by an excessive intake of caffeine.

Lemon Balm – mild calming herb that is at its best as a complement for stronger sleep inducing benefit of valerian or hops, it helps restlessness and nervousness.

Valerian – extract of valerian root. The herb helps to relieve stress and acting as a noon-habit forming hypnotic.

Lavender – sprinkle four drops of pure essential oil to the corner of pillow or lavender bath before going to bed.

Kava kava – this extract can help unwind

St John’s worth – extensively researched for anti-depressant qualities and fatigue

Avena sativa – helps to regain balance and relax the body

I hope from now on you will have sweet dreams :):):)

Marie

Comments

I can relate...

Submitted on February 9th, 2010

I can really relate to this article. Throughout my ED I have suffered from insomnia and sometimes it was self-induced insomnia because I felt I didn't deserve sleep and wrongly assumed that the less I slept, the more calories I would use up.

Over the course of a year I survived on very little sleep - only managing to get 2 - 4 hours per night and experiencing at least 2 nights per week with no sleep at all. During this year my eating became very chaotic and I gained a lot of weight. With the help of my therapist and various treatments such as Reiki, reflexology/massage and homeopathy my sleep finally sorted itself out. My mood lifted which made recovery a much easier job. I lost the weight I gained, even though I was eating a lot more than I was during my insomnia.

If you are suffering from insomnia there are many different avenues you can explore to help. Try and avoid using sleeping tablets because they do not treat the cause and eventally you build up a resistance to them and they stop working, leaving you with a bigger problem than you started with.

xx