Menopause and Insomnia

Sleep can be too difficult to achieve at some point in a woman's life. It could be because you broke up with your boyfriend, or the bedbugs are making it impossible for you to travel to dreamland. If you broke up with your boyfriend 5 years ago and you just changed your sheets, don’t start blaming the 5 cups of coffee you had today. A visit to your doctor may tell you that you are approaching menopause. Well, the news probably made you nervous and had you finish more cups of coffee but it does not mean that menopause and insomnia happen at exactly the same time. Studies revealed that the difficulty in sleeping may happen from five to seven years before the actual menopause occurs.

Menopause and insomnia are as inevitable as rainbow after a storm. Like Romeo and Juliet, one isn't exactly complete without the other. People have been putting the blame on night sweats as responsible for making sleep so unattainable during menopause. However, scientific studies revealed that insomnia may not at all times caused by night sweats. Menopause and insomnia is a cause and effect thing. A drop in estrogen hormone level decreases the serotonin chemical in the brain, making sleep so hard to achieve.

The lack of sleep can result to some other behavioral problems like moodiness and irritability. There are some techniques you can try doing in order to stimulate sleep. These are:

• Keep your room free from noise.
• Use soft light to illuminate your room and turn off any glaring lights.
• Avoid alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine.
• Keep your room cool.

Those who have long term sleeping problems may require more than a lullaby. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is also said to reduce sleeping problems and other menopausal symptoms. However, HRT use should be advised by a doctor because of its alleged risks. There are other natural alternatives that are said to "cure" sleeping problems. But their efficiencies are much of a debate up to this day.

Keeping a regular sleep schedule may help you deal with menopause and insomnia. A healthy lifestyle like eating the right foods especially before bedtime and engaging in physical activities everyday may not only keep you healthy but may make your menopause and insomnia dilemma seem like a bad dream. Mind relaxation exercises like meditation and yoga can also encourage sleep.

However, if you still find yourself fully awake after all these efforts, stop trying. Try not to think about sleeping and do something worthwhile like cleaning the house and doing a report. Whatever that keeps your mind off sleeping. And counting sheep is not an option.

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