What exactly is insomnia?
Insomnia is one of those issues that’s easy to underestimate if you don’t have actual first hand experience with. However, it’s hard to overestimate the negative effects that prolonged lack of sleep can have on both mental and physical health of an individual. Sleep is one of the basic human needs – right up there with air, water and food, and being sleep deprived for as little as two days can have severe and serious negative effects on even the most resilient, healthiest people.
Insomnia can be classified as having problems falling asleep, or staying asleep. Some people tend to wake up too early, before they had the chance to fully rest, while others can only sleep for short periods of time. All of these different insomnia scenarios can have the same effects though – not being sufficiently rested means that the person affected with insomnia will often have trouble focusing on the task at hand, which can be extremely dangerous for both themselves and others, especially if they are driving or operating heavy machinery.
How can insomnia be treated? Like many different health issues, insomnia is best treated using a combination of medications and establishing new habits. Most doctors who specialize in treating insomnia agree that exercise, reduced caffeine intake, and taking out the TV out of the bedroom can all help in combating insomnia. However, when it comes to providing immediate relief, medication like Ambien is often needed to ensure that the patient affected with insomnia gets enough much needed, healthy sleep.
But I’ve heard that sleeping pills are dangerous! Sleeping pills have gotten some bad rep over the years. While it’s true that during the fifties, many actors, musicians and other celebrities have overdosed on sleeping pills (either accidentally or on purpose), modern sleeping aids like Ambien are much safer. Ambien is the perfect representative of this new breed of sleeping pills. It works by affecting a chemical substance present in human brain called GABA. GABA is a neurochemical that calms the activity of certain centers in the brain, allowing for relaxation and sleep to occur. Because Ambien works in a very natural way, you won’t wake up after a night of refreshing, Ambien induced sleep feeling groggy – in fact, you’ll feel fresh, energetic and ready to take the day head on.
So how can I get Ambien?
Ambien is a prescription drug, and you should speak with your GP if you want to use it. Your doctor will probably ask you about your sleeping patterns and habits, so it’s a good idea to keep a sleep diary, or journal for a few weeks. You should also let your doctor know about any medications and drugs you are currently using.
Your doctor will probably start you on a low dosage of Ambien, and recommend that you take it for between seven and ten days. In most cases, this is enough time to establish healthy sleeping patterns, and break the viscous circle of insomnia.