People who, for months at a time, experience sleepless nights or even just problems staying asleep, are suffering from insomnia. It is odd, but true that insomnia has made its way effortlessly into popular culture. There have been books, plays, movies, and television shows all featuring characters who suffer from this sleep disorder.

Once the person has been diagnosed with insomnia, it is then time to figure out the factors that are actually causing it. For example, if a person is stressed or grieving, an anti-anxiety or anti-depression medication might be prescribed. Or, if the person has a lifestyle in which they tend to spend long hours working or partying, behavioral issues will need to be checked.

Yes, there are definitely many medical ways to treat insomnia, but some of them actually add to the problems. Take, for example, the drug Valium. This is usually just prescribed to people who are suffering from this sleep disorder. However, while it might actually help the person to fall asleep, it can also become addictive.

Believe it or not, there are many different kinds of products available in your local grocery store that not only might be contributing to your sleepless nights, but could actually be used as a drug-free way to soothe you into a good night's sleep.

Take, for example, the coffee aisle. Many people, before work, or even just as part of their morning routine, have a cup of coffee. Well, those who are not health-conscious to begin with will probably choose regular, instead of decaffeinated coffee. Big mistake.

Why? Because caffeine is actually a stimulant. It can be found in not just coffee, but in tea and soda as well. It can build up in the bloodstream to such an extent that it actually can be the main cause of those sleepless nights. So, be sure to either forgo such drinks altogether, or choose the decaffeinated/diet version.

Right before people go to sleep each night, they tend to want a snack. The most popular kind of snack is cereal. On the surface, it seems harmless enough, right? Well, most all brands contain enough sugar to keep a person up for hours. Plus, to avoid digestion problems and clots, it is very important to wait at least half an hour after eating before going to bed.

So, what kinds of thinks in a grocery store can actually be helpful? The main thing is actually something that has been in use for over a hundred years: Warm milk. All you have to do is take a couple of warm milk and heat it up in your stove (not the microwave, because that causes an unhealthy breakdown of enzymes). If you are lactose intolerant, then try the brand of milk you use already, like rice milk. The warmth of it will relax you, and you'll be sleeping (preferably for a healthy eight hours) in no time.