Obstacles to Refreshing Sleep
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Last week we discussed some tips for sound sleep and today I’d like to mention a few key obstacles to refreshing sleep. This is not an exhaustive list—just a few key points.
Of course, there are issues related to sleep itself that can prevent us getting refreshing sleep. Things like sleep apnea and snoring can cause fatigue and excess daytime sleepiness. So, if your partner hears you making funny noises in the night—which might be signs of sleep apnea—or if you find you are falling asleep watching television or reading, it might be a good idea to get a sleep study.
But there are many reasons why we can’t sleep, or don’t sleep well, that are actually not sleep-related. An important one is pain. Pain can prevent us getting a good night’s sleep. If it’s an acute pain, like a toothache, obviously we need to get it taken care of right away. But a lot of us have chronic musculoskeletal pain that stops us falling asleep or wakes us in the night. In that event, taking sleeping pills or sleep herbs isn’t the solution. The pain itself has to be addressed. See a physical therapist or yoga therapist and check with your Ayurvedic Practitioner about herbs, oils and salves to alleviate your pain so you can sleep better.
Stress and anxiety can interfere with sleep. And in this event, again, it’s more important to address the source than to take things to make you go to sleep. If the problem can be solved, make efforts to solve it. If your life is too stressful, remember that sleep is vital to health and wellbeing, so you would be well advised to make some changes so your life will be a little easier. If it’s a problem that doesn’t seem to have a solution; then it’s important to learn to live with it a bit more comfortably by using stress reduction techniques such as yoga, relaxation and mindfulness. There’s also great value in the biblical saying, ‘Don’t let the sun go down on your anger.’ It’s important to reconcile with those we love and to avoid going to bed angry.
Sometimes the anxiety that keeps us from sleep isn’t about things that are current, but comes from previous traumatic events. Perhaps there was a time in our life when it wasn’t safe to sleep. If trauma is keeping us from restful sleep, again, we need to get to the root cause. Therapy is vital in this situation and can be supported by the stress reduction techniques we mentioned just now. Your Ayurvedic Practitioner can also help with herbs that reduce anxiety and help calm the nervous system.
In the same vein, mental illnesses such as depression and bipolar can cause sleep disorder. Here, the message is the same: address the root cause of the sleep problem by pacifying the doshas, taking nervine herbs and if necessary, getting appropriate medication.
Chronic illnesses like ME/CFIDS and Long COVID are important causes of insomnia, circadian rhythm disorder and unrefreshing sleep. Once again, as well as practicing sleep hygiene by following the tips we mentioned last week, it’s important to seek out an Ayurvedic professional to get a comprehensive plan to address these serious and debilitating conditions, which are typically poorly treated or dismissed by the medical establishment.
A final tip; we need darkness and quiet for sleep. If necessary, invest in blackout curtains, which also have a soundproofing effect. And remember, sleeping with the light on is injurious to your health.
Next time, we’ll look at some home remedies to promote sound sleep.
Alakananda Ma M.B., B.S. (Lond.) is an Ayurvedic Doctor (NAMA) and graduate of a top London medical school. She is co-founder of Alandi Ayurveda Clinic and Alandi Ayurveda Gurukula in Boulder Colorado, as well as a spiritual mother, teacher, flower essence maker and storyteller. Alakananda is a well known and highly respected practitioner in the Ayurveda community both nationally and internationally.
Enliven your holistic health! Visit Alakananda Ma in Alandi Ashram’s ayurvedic clinic to support the overall rejuvenation of your body, mind, and spirit. In-person and virtual appointments available. Book now!
