Why can't I sleep????

Insomnia is when you regularly find it hard to fall asleep, stay asleep or wake up early and cannot get back to sleep to get your recommended 7-8 hours’ sleep an adult needs.

You have a few treatment options you can explore at your pharmacy from herbal medication to S3 (pharmacist only) treatments.

Your doctor has stronger options, but we want you to use all of these short term, as you can become reliant on them to fall asleep.

Sleep Hygiene is really important: This means many things including; -Having a regular bedtime and wake time, -No afternoon naps, -Having a dark room to sleep in, -Having a room that is cool to sleep in, -Use earplugs or white noise machines or a fan if things are noisy.

-Avoiding screens to close to bedtime, -Relaxing before bed, -Exercising regularly (not to close to bedtime) -Avoid caffeine, -Not drinking too much before bed, so you don't wake in the middle of the night to go to the toilet. -If you can't fall asleep within 20 minutes get up, read (not on a bright screen) when you feel tired again return to bed. -If you have racing thought, or go through a lot of problems, write them down and any solutions so you can address it in the morning, or give yourself "worry" time during the day where you write down your thoughts.

If all else fails see your doctor, among many things you may be recommended to complete a sleep study.

Sleep Health Foundation have some great information available on their website http://www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au/