There is Hope if You Still Can’t Sleep

In the last couple months I've shared dozens of helpful tips, information, and strategies to help get better sleep. But if you've tried everything and still can't sleep, there is hope. I participated in an Ambassador program on behalf of Influence Central for Pernix Therapeutics. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation. All thoughts and opinions shared here are my own.

My Results

As I mentioned, I have been trying all sorts of different sleeping strategies to help me sleep through the night. I'm happy to report that overall I have noticed a dramatic improvement in my sleeping patterns.

While I still struggle to get to bed at an earlier time–darn kids and their extra curricular activities have me driving everyone home at 10pm–I am staying asleep through the night and having no trouble falling fast asleep.

The most helpful things for me have been:

• Logging off of social media and devices at least 30 minutes before bedtime. I had originally said I'd do this an hour before bed, but as a full time blogger–30 minutes feels like a lot. That blue light they always talk about really does mess with your circadian rhythm. Giving my eyes a break from it lets them know its time to relax. The distractions of internet drama are also nice to forget about before hitting your pillow.
• Giving up caffeine after noon has also had a significant impact on my ability to fall and stay asleep. I mean, duh. But honestly, I was stuck in a vicious cycle. I needed that 2 or 3'clock coffee to get through the day because I wasn't getting enough sleep at night. But that's also what was causing the crummy sleep to begin with. So after just a couple days without that afternoon joe, I was sleeping like a champ.
• Getting cozy. Evan and I re-situated our sleeping positions. He has horrendous sciatic nerve issues and he kept waking up on his back. I didn't realize he was messing up my sleep so much too. We now wedge a pillow under his back so he is forced to stay sleeping on his side which alleviates the pressure on his lower back.
• Going dark. I wasn't always shutting the curtains at night because I was just too lazy. Now I make it part of my routine and have noticed the room is a lot more sleep-friendly.

Still Can't Sleep?

If you've tried everything that has worked for me and find yourself still struggling to stay asleep or fall asleep at night, perhaps it's time for a doctor's help. While most Americans acknowledge the importance of a shut-eye routine, only half admit to actually sticking to one. For people with insomnia, a healthy shut-eye strategy may not be enough.

The good news is that there are effective treatment options available, including SILENOR®, a prescription sleep aid that is used to treat people with insomnia who have trouble staying asleep.

SILENOR® works with the wake-promoting mechanism with the body's natural sleep-wake cycle, helping patients stay asleep throughout the night and early morning. Most importantly, it's not associated with a risk of abuse or physical dependence.

If you're struggling to stay asleep at night, and have tried everything, you should have a conversation with your doctor about your routine, lifestyle and symptoms to determine the best option for you.

To learn more about how to achieve a full, uninterrupted night's sleep, visit Wanttosleepmore.com

Full SILENOR^® ISI: SILENOR^® is a prescription sleep medicine that is used to treat people with insomnia who have trouble staying asleep. Call your doctor if your insomnia worsens or is not better within 7 to 10 days. This may mean that there is another condition causing your sleep problem. Be sure that you are able to devote 7 to 8 hours to sleep before being active again. SILENOR^® should be taken within 30 minutes of bedtime. Do not take with alcohol or with other medicines that can make you sleepy. If you are on a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) or have taken a MAOI within the past two weeks, you should not take SILENOR^®. You should not take SILENOR^®if you have an eye problem called narrow angle glaucoma that is not being treated, if you have severe urinary retention, or if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in SILENOR^®. You should not drive or operate machinery at night after taking SILENOR^®. Until you know how you will react to SILENOR^®, you should be careful in performing such activities during the day following taking SILENOR^®. Before you take SILENOR^®, tell your doctor if you have a history of depression, mental illness or suicidal thoughts. You should call your doctor right away if after taking SILENOR^® you walk, drive, eat or engage in other activities while asleep. Drowsiness is the most common adverse event observed in clinical trials. For more information, please see the complete Prescribing Information, including the Medication Guide, at https://www.silenor.com/>Content/pdf/prescribing->information.pdf. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.