Traditionally, those who have problems falling asleep or staying asleep will visit their doctor and receive a prescription for a sleep aid. In the short term, many people find relief by taking a sedative-hypnotic. However, these medications can create a psychological dependency when used over months or even years. The question then becomes, how can people with sleep disturbances sleep like a baby without medication?
How to Sleep Like a Baby Without Medication
Say Goodbye to Stress
Stress and sleep have a complicated relationship. Too much stress causes sleep deprivation which leads to greater stress in a person’s life. For some people, the key to experiencing less stress is to get adequate rest, but are often faced with long nights staring at the ceiling because of that stressor in their lives. The key to better sleep lies in reducing the effects of stress on the body. Diet, exercise and meditative practices all have a significant impact on the way stress affects the body. Practice mindfulness, do yoga and be sure you are eating a balanced diet to increase the likelihood of falling asleep and staying asleep at night.
Give Neurofeedback a Try
For years, drugs have been the answer in the medical community when faced with neurological problems such as insomnia and sleep problems. Yet, medication does nothing to alter the way the brain functions when trying to sleep. Neurofeedback is a non-invasive technique to create new neural pathways in the brain that, among other things, promote sleep and attentive wakefulness. By changing the timing and activation patterns in the brain, previous connections that have been broken are reconnected and patients experience improvement in brain regulation. In turn, a better functioning brain is able to shut down when necessary, allowing patients to fall asleep when they need to.
Schedule a Brain Map and Consultation Online!
Chiropractic is Key
What does your spine have to do with sleep health? Everything. The brain and the nerves found in the spine make up the central nervous system, the part of the body that controls both autonomic functions, such as blood pressure, breathing, heart rate, and body temperature, as well as peripheral functions such as running, jumping and carrying. When the brain and nerves are able to communicate with the rest of the body unimpeded, the body is able to function at maximum ability. Yet stress, diet, poor sleep positions, injuries, and other daily habits cause the spine to move out of place, thereby impeding the nerves from functioning the way they should. Only when the spine is brought back into alignment can the nerves begin to communicate effectively again. The best way to do this is through chiropractic adjustments. Those who are nervous about the sudden bending and cracking associated with spinal realignment can rest assured that the latest chiropractic techniques involve precise, gentle force adjustment to particular areas of the spine that are associated with problems in the body. Arthrostim® is an adjustment technique that is particularly effective at easing the joints back into place with as little as a few ounces of pressure.
From stress management counseling to neurofeedback to chiropractic care, only SandStone Chiropractic provides patients in the Houston area with all three techniques for better sleep. With locations in Montgomery, Magnolia, Conroe, and The Woodlands, SandStone provides each patient with individualized care for matching their needs. Call Sandstone or schedule your comprehensive exam with x-rays online.
