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Relaxation and Sleep Disorders

© James Foster Robinson

It is hard enough to get quality sleep when you do not have to cope with any sleep disorders: it is even hard when you suffer from Sleep Apnea, insomnia or any of a host of other debilitating sleep disorders. There are many techniques, cures, aids and solutions offered on the market. Many are useless, expensive or both. Some are simple, inexpensive and effective when properly used or applied.

Relaxation is one such technique that can help you get a good night's sleep. If you are uptight and restless, your mind filled with angry or disturbing thoughts, then it is highly unlikely that you will easily fall asleep, let alone get a good night's sleep. I suffer from SOSA (Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea) and have to use a CPAP even if I am taking a nap. The use of this machine does not ensure that I will get to sleep easily or get a good night's sleep. It does ensure that I will be able to breathe in my sleep and not wake up dead! It is not surprising that I can not fall asleep when I (and my mind) are not relaxed. In that case, the machine is useless and blowing a lot of air for nothing. Learning to relax can be a great aid to anyone (let alone someone suffering from a sleep disorder) wanting to get a good forty winks. Studies have shown that the regular practice of mediation can raise the level of melatonin, an important sleep regulator, in the practitioner's blood.

There are two basic types of relaxation techniques--those which relaxe your muscles such as progressive muscle relaxation and biofeedback and those which quiet your mind such as mediation. Practiced during the day, relaxation helps reduces daily stress resulting in lower levels of stress at night. Done just before sleep, relaxation causes your brain to go into a stage similar to Stage 1 Sleep, that essential step between being awake and being asleep. Practicing relaxation helps you to fall back to sleep easier, sleep longer and deeper. You should then feel more rested when you get up in the morning. Of course, like anything, you have to work at it to get it to work. So do not despair if you do not see results right away. Just relax and keep at it.

There are many different relaxation techniques around. Check them out to find one right for you. In fact, take a look at the following articles here at Suite101.