What is Chronic Insomnia?

Chronic insomnia occurs when your sleep has been disrupted for three or more nights a week for more than one month at a time.

Say whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat? Is that all? If you are like me and you are a mother then you probably haven't slept well since you brought your first baby home. To add to that, midlife presents its own sleep issues.

Poor quality and quantity of sleep can cause a host of problems:

* sleepiness
* fatigue
* difficulty concentrating
* irritability
* temporary memory loss
* depressed immune function
* it can exacerbate depressive symptoms
* moodiness

Many experts link poor quality sleep to many of the signs of menopause. They will tell you that if the insomnia didn't cause the symptom, it at least intensified the sign or symptom.

Many women who suffer from nightsweats will get up several times a night to change their soaking nightgowns and pillowcases.

In addition to perimenopausal symptoms, sleep disturbances generally increase with age. About 1/3rd of womenreport insomnia as they age. So, it's difficult to tell if the chronic insomnia is related to the aging process or if it is hormonal.

Insomnia has different patterns: for some people they have problems falling asleep and others wake up throughout the night.

Chronic insomnia makes us vulnerable to illnesses. Also, sleep deprivation can affect memory and concentration, and it can make us more vulnerable to moodiness and depression and irritability.

Okay, so what should we do about it? First find the cause of your sleeplessness. Your doctor may refer you to a sleep clinic. Then, use the techniques written in my article on insomnia see if that helps you.

Treatments for chronic insomnia

* Black Cohosh.
* Kava Kava. It contains natural muscle relaxants that make it an ideal treatment for insomnia caused by anxiety. It is nonaddictive and it doesn't leave you feeling drowsy. Dr. Laura Corio recommends that you take 60 to 120 mg daily, starting with a low dose if you need to. Never take Kava Kava with alcohol, antidepressants or benzodiazepines.
* Saint John's Wort. It has been proven in numerous studies to improve depression and therefore help with insomnia. It usually takes about six weeks of daily doses to start working. Saint John's Wort may cause sensitivity to light and to certain foods such as wine and cheese. Do not take it if you are on bloodthinners or drugs that cause sun sensitivity. If you are on an antidepressant, consult with your doctor prior to starting St. John's Wort.
* Chamomile is a gentle sedative. Drink a cup of chamomile tea before retiring.
* Valerian is a mild natural tranquilizer. Do not take this with any other sedative.


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