The other night I couldn't fall asleep. I had an overwhelming feeling of anxiety. I thought that I had forgot to put an appointment into the computer for the following day. I kept telling myself to stop worrying and just go in early the next day to double check. No matter what I did I couldn't stop stressing though. I was about to drive back to the spa at midnight just so I could relax and go to sleep, but I thought the building manager would think I was up to something suspicious or that I was crazy. So, what causes this to happen?
Stress and anxiety can cause your muscles to tense up, release the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline, and increase your heart rate. The exact symptoms I was feeling that night!
Sometimes there isn't a thing you can do, but sometimes there are.
Here are some of those things:
A Warm Bath - Take a warm bath or shower before bed and add some essential oils like Lavender, Camomile, or Rose.
A Nice Cup of Decaffeinated Herbal Tea - Camomile is always good!
A Warm Cup of Milk - Milk contains tryptophan, an amino acid that is converted into serotonin - a chemical in the brain that helps with sleep.
A Good Book - Reading helps you to relax and distract your mind from your worries.
Soft Music or Talk Radio - Hit the "Snooze" button, the lulling effect will help you to relax and fall asleep.
Meditation - Visit your "happy place" when you lie down. Whether its the beach, a forest, or sitting by a campfire - visualize your tranquil place before falling asleep!
Aromatherapy and Massage - Granted its hard to stroke your own back like your mom used to do when you couldn't sleep as a kid, but you can massage your temples or head before bed. Use some relaxing essential oils or candles! *Just remember to blow the candles out before falling asleep!!!
Stretching - Do some relaxing shoulder or head and neck roles before bed. Bend forward and just let your body hang to stretch out your low back muscles. *Don't force yourself, just "hang".
I hope that some of these tips help you get a relaxing night's sleep. Nighty, night, sleep tight! Zzzz!
Oh and don't forget - regular massages help tremendously in decreasing stress, so if you can book an appointment today!
Nami Spa
http://www.namispa.com
