Sleep is one of the most important things that we have to do, because our body does a number of important functions during sleep. It recuperates from injury, helps the body to rest, metabolizes food and such from throughout the day, and more. Because of this, it's important that we get a sufficient amount of sleep on a regular basis. But some of us have some major issues with sleeping, and because of this, we don't exactly know how to take care of it. In this article, we're going to explore some of the reasons why people can't sleep, and we're going to give you some tips for better sleep. 

Why Can't I Sleep?

There are actually a number of different reasons why you can't sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation, many times, an inability to sleep is actually related to other health issues that can be dealt with, and by dealing with those, people find that they are better able to sleep. Some of these issues may include the following:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Nightmares/Terrors
• Bed Wetting
• Worrying (not related to anxiety)
• Racing thoughts
• Insomnia
• Breathing problems (Apnea, asthma, etc)
• Pain related issues (fibromyalgia, nervous system issues, etc)
• Teeth grinding
• Restless Leg Syndrome and other related disorders

These aren't the only reasons either. Another issue that you may have is that you've distributed your day oddly, and by not taking care of your needs in a way that helps you sleep well at night, you are more likely to struggle with falling asleep and/or staying asleep. 

Tips for Better Sleep 

If you're struggling with your sleep, you likely want to find ways to make it easier on you when you decide that it's time to go to bed. Follow these pieces of advice in order to help you sleep a little bit better when your head hits the pillow. These definitely aren't the only tips you can use, but they are a good place for you to start with your journey toward sleeping better. 

Stop Using Electronic Devices Before Bed. This is a huge one. Because we're so connected to mobile devices and other such things, we always want to have them at hand. Plug your phone or tablet in across the room. Don't lay in bed and play with it, because it overstimulates your mind and makes it difficult for you to sleep properly. Also, it can be distracting if people are texting or calling you in the middle of the night - interrupting your sleep schedule regularly just makes the whole thing worse. Your mind will start to race and you may start thinking about other things that you want or need to get done, which makes sleep even more elusive to you. 

Retrain your mind to relax. A lot of people struggle with worry and other related problems. As a result, they may have a hard time getting to sleep. So, instead of laying there and worrying about everything, put a pad and paper next to your bed and write down the things that you're worrying about. That way, those thoughts can be put aside for awhile while you try to go to sleep. The issue is training your mind to relax in the evenings when you're getting ready to go to bed, instead of getting all worked up and stressed out about everything you have to do. You can help yourself relax by drinking a warm beverage or using aromatherapy as well. 

Make sure there isn't another health problem that is interfering with your sleep. As we mentioned above, many times poor sleep is a symptom of another issue that is going on. If there is a health issue that you are concerned about, or you think that there may be something deeper going on with your health, then you will want to talk to your doctor and see what they can do in order to help you sleep better and to alleviate the symptoms that are causing you to sleep poorly. 

Seek out help if you need it. If there is a mental health issue or another issue that has come up and is causing your sleep problems, as we've mentioned above, don't be afraid to go and get help. Millions of people struggle from the above disorders every year, and millions more just struggle with their sleeping patterns in general. If you are in need of mental health assistance or you want to be sure that you can sleep well at night, go and get the help that you need in order to do so. 

Which of these tips do you use right now? Which ones will you add into your routine, and which ones may be difficult for you to change? No matter what the reason is for your lack of sleep, you can find relief. 

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Ratini, M. (0000, January 02). Sleep Problems and Sleep Disorder Types and Descriptions. Retrieved May 24, 2014, from http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/understanding-sleep-problems-basics

Sleep Disorders Problems. (2013). Retrieved May 22, 2014, from http://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-disorders-problems

Smith, M., Robinson, L., & Segal, R. (2013, November). Sleep Disorders and Sleeping Problems. Retrieved May 23, 2014, from http://www.helpguide.org/life/sleep_disorders.htm

Wadyka, S. (2009, September 25). How to solve 9 sleep problems. Retrieved May 23, 2014, from http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/09/25/nine.sleep.problems/