How do we treat stress and insomnia?

A comedian once said that “the best cure for insomnia is to get more sleep,” but that's not always easy.

A new study suggests that a new and simple 10-minute technique may reduce stress, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep as well. This method, which is designed to be practiced right before going to bed, involves mentally focusing on a quiet and relaxing place, such as waves on the beaches or a calm lake surrounded by tall trees, and breathing slowly and deeply, according to the Saudi newspaper, Asharq Al-Awsat.

“This method builds on previous work emphasizing that stress and It negatively affects sleep. There are many known risk factors for heart disease, such as smoking, diabetes and high cholesterol, but very few are known about stress.”

The study, presented last October at the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians in Atlanta, confirms that this method reduces the time it takes a person to fall asleep, improves sleep quality and reduces stress.

According to the American National Center for Sleep Disorders Research, 30 to 40% of adults suffer from some symptoms of insomnia, such as the inability to fall asleep or the inability to stay asleep, and 10 to 15% of adults suffer from chronic insomnia. .

One sleep expert stressed that caution should be exercised in interpreting the results of this study. “It's not a new technique, but the name 'Anxiety Taming' is just It's a fictitious name, as stress reduction has always played a big role in helping people sleep.” While Verma stresses that reducing stress in any form will have clear results, it is important to know the real reason why people have trouble sleeping.

The study also showed that sleep problems are associated with an increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, depression, highway accidents, and other problems.

While reducing stress is beneficial, Verma stresses that the benefits aren't very significant. "It will help you fall asleep, but it doesn't guarantee you good quality sleep or no breathing problems while you sleep, for example," she says.

Verma advises people to relax well before bed and forget about all the other subjects and influences that occurred during the day. "You should make sleep a priority in your life," Verma adds.