Suffering From Insomnia? Try Meditation Over Medication

According to the National Sleep Foundation almost six in ten Americans report having insomnia at least a few nights a week. If you have ever suffered from a sleepless night, you know insomnia just plain sucks. Insomnia is considered chronic if you have trouble either falling asleep or staying asleep for over a month.

A recent study by a Norwegian center for sleep disorders compared the effectiveness of behavioral therapy (CBT) with prescription sleep medication. They found CBT to be not only more effective but it has none of the icky side effects commonly associated with sleeping pills, like the sleepy hangover and associated impaired functioning the day after use. Plus CBT won't lose its potency since you won't build up a tolerance for it like medication - there is no golden pill.

Here are the components of the behavior therapy:

• Relaxation techniques (breathing exercises and meditation)
• Control over sleeping environment to reduce stimuli
• Restricting sleep hours - this makes it easier to fall asleep at bedtime
• Waking at the same time everyday - including the weekends

These seem easy enough to follow. If you suffer from insomnia it is also a good idea to avoid alcohol, caffeine and nicotine in the hours before bedtime.

Sweet dreams.....zzzz