People who report problems regarding insufficient sleep throughout the night often feel lethargic, and dazed in the morning and at their workplace. Unable to keep up with a healthy sleeping regime on a daily basis can actually cause a person to gain more weight, become susceptible to heart related problems in the future, and may become prone to impotence.

Those who deal with the situation by taking sleeping tablets have a different set of problems coming their way altogether. Not only can these medicines become a source of abuse and cause various allergic symptoms like itching, hives, swelling of the face, they can also cause short term memory loss and in extreme cases, even death.

Nevertheless, insomnia and other sleeping disorders like sleep apnea are best treated with a variety of combined methods rather than solely medication, as advised by many physicians and general practitioners worldwide. Here are some guidelines for treatment:

Psychological Treatments That Are Available

More often than not, sleepless nights are a result of work related stress, social or economical problems, or related to personal traumas or emotional setbacks. All of these conditions need to be identified first and medication should be the last option that anyone should resort to, to resolve their sleeping problems. Some of the most effective methods of treatment are often psychological in nature and can include:

• Cognitive Therapy, which helps to deal with anxiety related issues that stop people from sleeping.
• Stimulus Control Therapy helps people to strengthen their links with sleeping and lessen their worries, and stop them from doing activities that keep them awake at night.
• Sleep Restriction Therapy is designed to keep patients from staying in the bed too long which can result in loss of sleep.
• Progressive Muscle Relaxation Therapy helps to relax muscles starting from the feet to upper parts of the body, making them less tense and preparing them for sleep.

Self Help Organizations and Communities

Sleep disorders and insomnia are recurring symptoms for many people around the world. In Britain alone, 75% of all people reporting such problems were women, where as men account only for 1/4. Thus, as an educated community, many organizations have developed programs that are deemed beneficial for people suffering from insomnia and sleep related ailments. Some of the prominent names include:

• British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association
• Edinburgh Sleep Centre
• London Sleep Centre
• Narcolepsy Association UK
• Sleep Apnoea Trust

Using sleeping tablets to seek relief from sleeping disorders is a short-term treatment that will wear off quickly and pose health risks to the consumer. It is best to choose wisely and opt for more beneficial and long-term treatment, which is both more effective and medically safe.