It all started when my friend, John, resigned from his previous job where he worked as a lay-out artist in a publishing house for three years due to burnout. For two long months, John considered it a long vacation of sorts and took the liberty to enjoy such freedom from the stress and anxiety brought upon by his work, not worrying about anything. For him, being jobless can be a time for unwinding and relaxing from all the hassles and bustles of having a dormant career, and a time to assess his next career move. So it was party-all-night for John, either with the gang or just by himself. Going on the third month, John felt he had enough of the fun that he decided to start applying for a job. John is a smart and sharp guy who got used to getting hired right away. More often than not, opportunities were the ones to knock at his door and run after him. However, this time, John noticed that most of his on-line applications were not getting noticed and that most job vacancies prefer people a lot younger than his age. Later on, after four months of being jobless, reality dawned on John that he was no longer as in demand as before when he was quite younger. John wasn't ready for the situation he was in. He started to have sleepless nights as well as anxiety attacks. At first, John thought that his insomnia was due to the late nights which he had gotten used as a ?party animal.? But as the nights went by, John found himself tossing and turning in bed until about four or five in the morning, trying to force himself to sleep. When John developed eye bags and started experiencing migraine attacks, he decided to take over-the-counter sleeping pills.



It is most likely that John had insomnia, a sleep disorder that is characterized by an inability to get some sleep or to stay asleep for long periods of time. The most common cause of insomnia is stress. However, other conditions that can lead to insomnia are physical discomforts such as having a stuffy nose due to colds or the pain of a headache; emotional troubles like family issues or relationship problems; or even an uncomfortable sleeping environment like a room that's too hot, cold, or noisy and a bed that is too soft or to hard to sleep on. People with a sleep disorder have difficulty in concentration and are unable to work effectively. They can also experience emotional problems like depression and anxiety.

Most people experience having insomnia from time to time. But if insomnia lasts for a month or longer with no relief, it becomes chronic insomnia. People with chronic insomnia can often get help for their condition from a doctor, therapist, or other counselor.

Several over-the-counter sleeping pills are available in any pharmacy. Many of these medications contain antihistamines, which induce drowsiness by working against the central nervous system chemical histamine. Sleeping pills are most effective for an occasional sleepless night. However, the more often you take them, the less effective they become.

In the old days, herbal potions and opiate laudanum were used to induce sleep until the introduction of barbiturates in the early 1900s. Benzodiazepines entered the scene in the 1960s and succeeded by a safer class of insomnia drugs known as nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics in the 1990s.

Nowadays, sleeping pills are no longer as risky as it used to be in the past where cases of dependence and lethal overdoses were rampant. Yet, the use of sleeping pills is not recommended for people who have certain medical conditions such as liver and kidney disease. That is why it is very important to consult with your doctor before taking any medications to avoid any adverse drug interaction.

In the case of my friend, John, his insomnia was brought upon by stress and anxiety. Even when he found a new job, he still could not beat his insomnia. He still had a hard time getting sleep and it almost affected his performance at work. But his new job as a graphic artist in an advertising agency gave him a new perspective in his career. And because he was no longer feeling depressed about his situation, the feeling of anxiety began to wear off. Slowly, his sleeping cycle returned to normal and the stress gradually went away. It wasn't long before he finally stopped taking sleeping pills just to induce sleep.

If you're also having trouble getting sleep, it may be useful to consider these tips on how to get some quality shut-eye:

?Try to stick to a regular sleep schedule.

?Make sure to exercise regularly but not before bedtime.

?Refrain from taking caffeine and daytime naps.

?Keep stress under control.

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When your best attempts to get a good night's sleep have failed, prescription or over-the-counter sleeping pills may be an option. Be sure to use them safely and only with advice from your physician. If your doctor suspects a sleep problem, he or she will look at your overall health and sleep habits. Everyone deserves a good night's sleep.