An inability to sleep can lead to a number of physical discomforts over time and eventually cause an emotional and physical lowering of resistance to disease. Sleep is the natural cure for so many disorders and the lack of it can make us stressed and exhausted very quickly. Aging baby boomers are in a particularly vulnerable group regarding sleep disorders and insomnia can be difficult to eradicate if it has been a long term problem.
One of the first things a typical sufferer of insomnia might do is resort to a sleeping pill. Aging baby boomers are among the worst offenders for dipping into old medication for a new disorder and will invariably try treating insomnia with a sleeping medication prescribed for an entirely different ailment in the past.
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A better way forward is to undergo a physical examination first, to see if there is any physical cause behind the inability to sleep through the night. Frequent trips to the bathroom in the night can be a typical sleep interrupter and might often be the forerunner of Diabetes, so a physical check up will help to put the mind at rest and might even be all that is needed to alleviate any underlying worry about physical health.
If there is no physical reason for the insomnia, the logical conclusion is that there is an emotional problem; perhaps a problem that is subconscious. The sufferer may actually be aware of why he or she is unable to sleep but at a loss to know how to overcome the problem.
On the list of things to play with when sleep eludes us is the television, but in fact watching a TV program can be over-stimulating, resulting in more sleep hours lost. A book is a better choice. Drinking coffee or tea before bed with a high caffeine content is always a bad idea: hot milk has a more calming effect, or a caffeine free herb tea is equally soothing. For baby boomers who tend to sit in a chair too long each day, some gentle exercise can help to stretch hours spent in sleep.
Organizing a healthy sleep routine is a good way to start when trying to cure insomniacs. Early rising one day and laying in bed until ten the following morning can upset the balance of rest and activity. Baby boomers who get out of bed by eight thirty each morning and endeavour to be in bed before midnight enjoy a better sleeping pattern. Try to fit social events around sleeping hours, rather that the other way around: as aging boomers are less able to cope with a broken routine. Cut out napping and go for a gentle walk instead.
Make a note of the sleeping pattern and the hours spent awake. If no improvement is noted over a few weeks, it is best to seek psychological advice rather than continue to suffer from lack of sleep, as there may be an underlying emotional problem best dealt with professionally.
The Psychological Article on Conquering Insomnia: Things to Play With After Midnight is part of Boomer Yearbook’s continuing series of baby boomers psychological coaching tips and how to alleviate elderly problems. We believe knowledge is power. We’d love to hear what you think.
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Tags: baby boomer, elderly problems insomnia, Psychological Articles