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Insomnia

SLIDESHOW

7 Bedtime Behaviors That Will Help You Sleep

Hectic schedules have you running around until bedtime, but these busy routines can be hazardous to your sleep. A consistent wind-down plan every day can help you fall asleep more quickly and reliably. Try these relaxing tips for a restful night. View slideshow

SLIDESHOW

The 11 Kinds of Insomnia

Can't sleep? Here are 11 types of insomnia developed by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. View slideshow

Insomnia Overview

• Video: How Stress and Insomnia Feed Off Each Other

• Insomnia's Emotional Toll: A Young Mom Shares Her Struggle With Sleep and Stress

• Middle-of-the-Night Anxiety: Experts Explain the Vicious Cycle

• Menopause and Insomnia: How Hormones and Hot Flashes Affect Sleep

• All About Paradoxical Insomnia: A Rare Condition Between Sleep and Wakefulness

• The Best Websites for Understanding Insomnia

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Expert Lawrence Epstein's Advice on Treating Insomnia and Staying Asleep

Dr. Lawrence Epstein

Instructor at Harvard Medical School

Q: When I have trouble sleeping, I depend on coffee to get through my morning. Will that make it harder to fall asleep the next night, too?

A: Coffee can make insomnia worse. You've got to remember that the effect of caffeine can be long-lasting. The half-life of caffeine is four to seven hours, so it will be in your system for longer than you think, affecting your behavior, your alertness, and your ability to fall asleep. Some people drink caffeine in the afternoon when they feel tired, but it becomes hard to fall asleep at night, which perpetuates the problem. I recommend avoiding all caffeine after noon. Read More

Treatments for Insomnia

• Watching the Clock? How to Stay Calm and Get to Sleep Faster

• Why Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia Works

• How CBT Helped a Chronic Insomniac

• Video: How Behavioral Modifications Can Treat Chronic Insomnia

• Medication Options for Insomnia

• Sleeping Pill Side Effects

• Tired of Ambien? Sleep Meds of the Near Future

• Insomnia and Pain: How to Treat the Vicious Cycle

• Illness and Insomnia: How One Patient Fights Cancer and Sleep Issues

• 5 Things to Do (And 5 Not to Do) at 3 a.m.

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SLIDESHOW

Yoga Moves to Beat Insomnia, Ease Stress, and Relieve Pain

The next time you find yourself lying awake at night, grab your yoga mat: Research suggests this ancient form of exercise can help combat insomnia, relieve stress, and ward off aches and pains that can keep you tossing and turning. Here are some of master yoga instructor Sara Ivanhoe's favorite calming and comforting moves. View Slideshow

Video: Perspectives on Insomnia

Insomnia and Stress

"It can become a vicious circle"
( 1:24 )

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What Helps Me Sleep

Avoiding TV and adjusting my bedtime
( 1:43 )

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Reset Your Routine

Bedtime behaviors can bring on insomnia
( 2:03 )

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Battling Depression

"I wasn't worth much to my son"
( 1:50 )

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