Here Are the Real Reasons Why You Can't Fall Asleep at Night

If you're having trouble falling asleep at night, you are by no means alone. An estimated 60 million people in the US alone are constantly struggling each and every night to fall asleep at a decent hour and fend off the demons of sleep deprivation. That's nearly 20% of the entire United States population! And that's just in one country; the number of sleepless nights suffered by countless millions around the world is almost immeasurable. And most people don't even know why.

We here at Avinol.com, however, make it our business to know anything and everything there is to know about sleep. So we have some pretty extensive knowledge about why people are fighting so hard just to get a good night's rest. Lots of them don't even know why they can't fall asleep in the first place, and this lack of awareness can severely impact their ability to solve the problem. Don't let yourself be one of those people. Below are some of the factors which may be hindering your ability to conk out once your head hits the pillow at night.

When the Problem Is Mental

In many ways, it's inaccurate to distinguish a difference between a "mental" problem and a "physical" problem, since the brain itself is a physical organ and any malfunction is just the result of chemicals passing across neuronal synapses in a way that they shouldn't. However, because mankind still understands so little about the way the human brain works, the shroud of mysticism surrounding why we do what we do and why we feel how we feel makes us instinctively separate mind from body. And when we fail to understand why our minds won't let us fall asleep at night, a lack of quality sleep is the inevitable result.

Things like stress, anxiety, depression, and even loneliness - whether we are consciously aware of these problems or not - can make us all sleep fewer hours, degrade our sleep quality, and make it difficult to fall asleep in the first place. For mild to moderate insomnia, there's some very simple fixes, such as:

• Spending more time with friends
• Spending more quality time with your children/family
• Meditating/Mindfulness exercises
• Staying away from the scary stuff (books, movies/TV, news stories, etc.) before bed

Obviously, if your anxiety and depression are so severe that none of the above work for you, then it's time to talk to your doctor about other solutions. But the more effort you put into clearing your mind before bed, the easier it will be for you to fall asleep quickly, stay asleep throughout the night, and feel refreshed the next morning.

When the Problem Is Physical

Of course, maybe you're one of those few individuals who has it all together and doesn't suffer from problems - such as anxiety or loneliness - that may be keeping you up at night. If you're still having trouble sleeping, though, your body may be trying to tell you that you're doing one (or several) of the following things wrong:

• Temperature. Mankind has evolved to feel sleepy when the lights get low; but do you know what else happens at night? The temperature drops, too. So if you're trying to sleep in a hot room, you're going to have a difficult time. If you can afford it, try turning the A/C up a few degrees so that the cool air can lull you into a deep, restful slumber.
• For women: Aunt Flo is keeping you awake. And no, it isn't just about the anxiety and mood swings that are typical of PMS - although that is a part of the problem. The pain and discomfort that comes with it all, such as cramps and bloating, can also keep you tossing and turning all night.
• Do you need a nap? No, we're not being condescending; a lack of nap time in the afternoon can, ironically, make it harder for you to sleep later at night. Naps can be especially helpful for people who suffer from "afternoon fatigue", which usually hits right after lunch - sometime between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM. A quick 25-minute nap is all it should take. But if you need a few extra Z's, you can nap for as long as an hour and a half without too much worry.
• Infrequent and/or lackluster sex. It's no accident that J. Holiday's hit single "Put You To Bed" revolves around the sleep-inducing nature of satisfying, amorous escapades between the sheets. Research shows that people who make love to their partner on a regular basis - and have a good time doing it - tend to sleep a lot better than people who don't.
• Excess stimulant intake (especially later in the day). Almost everyone knows by now that you shouldn't touch a drop of caffeine after 12 o'clock in the afternoon if you live and work on a regular day/night schedule. But if you're shift worker, this rule may not be easy for you to follow. And for all the caffeine junkies out there, it's nearly impossible.
• Problems with your exercise routine. Just because you're not a kid anymore doesn't mean you don't need to give your body a good amount of physical activity on a daily basis if you want to sleep well. Even a brisk 30-minute walk within 3 to 5 hours of your bedtime can help you get to sleep an average of 12 minutes faster, and sleep for nearly 45 minutes longer at night.

When Natural Sleep Remedies Can Help

Whether your sleep difficulties come from mental blocks, physical causes, or some unfortunate combination thereof, there are certain diet and lifestyle changes you can make to help give yourself a fighting chance. But when you're doing everything right, and you're still struggling, there is additional help. Lots of people find relief with natural, herbal sleep aids that eliminate many of the physical and mental causes of nighttime restlessness. With such sleep remedies, Avinol PM included, you can get the restful, restorative night's sleep that you've been longing for. Don't lie awake in bed suffering another night. Try Avinol PM today.