New to Insomnia? Here's How I Manage

Being diagnosed with insomnia can be both validating and overwhelming. I believe that knowing is better than not knowing – that way you can try your best to take steps to improve your life. When you are newly diagnosed the mass of information, ideas, and possible solutions can be very overwhelming.

It is vital that you are diagnosed by a medical professional, as they will also rule out what could be causing the insomnia along with any underlying health issues. This is an important step and should not be skipped.

While insomnia could be the spin-off of something else you have going on, it is also a distinct condition on its own and is often treated as such.

Advice for my newly diagnosed insomniacs

If you have not been to the doctor yet or if you have a follow-up appointment coming up, here is the list of questions I use when I go for a 6-month check to make sure I do not forget anything:

• Are you struggling to fall asleep?
• Are you able to pinpoint why you are not able to fall asleep?
• What is your sleep environment like with noise, light, etc?
• How often are you waking up during the night? Do you know why you are waking up? Are you able to easily fall back asleep afterward?
• What is going on in your life at the current time? Are any major and noteworthy events happening?
• Do you struggle to wake up in the mornings? How do you feel when you wake up and during the next day?
• How long has this been going on? How are you experiencing day-to-day life?
• Is your mental health stable? Are you struggling to manage your mental health?

I often email my questions and answers to myself so I have them on hand. This also helps me track progress from the last appointment, which is helpful when you are trying to see what works for you and what doesn't.

Coping with the fallout from insomnia

There is so much more to insomnia than being tired. Since insomnia affects us in so many ways, it can be hard to grasp just how far-reaching it can be. Insomnia can affect your daily functioning, and poor work performance could become a problem too. You may even experience social isolation, reduced alertness, brain fog, and metabolic issues.¹

Social isolation and metabolic issues are things I deeply struggle with, and I am still working on this. Along with my doctor and therapist, I try to make sure that these things do not totally decay my quality of life. The good news is that there are ways to manage your symptoms – if not all of them, some of them at best.

Treating insomnia is more about what works best for you

Other than sleeping, feeling rested, and not feeling fatigued daily like I do, there could be more motivating reasons to start treating your insomnia. This includes reducing your risk of cardiovascular and mental health disorders.²

Talking with your healthcare provider and therapist could go a long way toward weighing your treatment options, from medicines and cognitive behavioral therapy to hypnosis and more – the list goes on.

While I do not currently treat my insomnia with medication, I pay close attention to my sleep environment. I use sleep aids of audio stories and sleepy tea – I love sleepy tea.  Some days are better than others, and as I grow older, I am more aware of what I need to do to make my life comfortable and live a full life despite my insomnia and other health issues I manage.

Wishing you good sleep and beautiful days.