Why Menopause Insomnia Occurs

Of all the signs and symptoms of the great "Change of Life," menopause insomnia is one of the worst. It just is not enough that you are tired all the time thanks to decreasing hormone levels. You are burning up with hot flashes, waking up with sopping night sweats, and mourning the loss of your interest in anything intimate. You are moody, you are irritable, your entire body is changing – and now, joy of joys, you cannot even get a good night's sleep.

This is a serious problem. Think about it: a lot of the women going through perimenopause and menopause are working wives and mothers. They either work all day at their job and then work at home in the evening, or work all day at home and spend all evening working at their job. The point is, in a situation like that, you have ample reason to be exhausted. Just the changing hormone levels are enough to cause extreme fatigue. A single, deep night's sleep could be your saving grace – and even that is too much to ask of your body!

There are ways to combat menopausal insomnia. First, however, you need to understand what causes it. In truth, there are several factors. The biggest ones are hot flashes. They are the result of adrenaline running amok through your body – and they lead to night sweats. They are the gift that keeps on giving, clearly. It is the adrenaline which rushes to your brain during a high flash that helps cause insomnia. Naturally, spurts of adrenaline give you energy – that is how mothers can lift cars off their trapped children. It is how people perform superhuman feats of strength. You do not have a chance in hades of getting to sleep after that.

Hormone replacement therapy is one way to combat insomnia brought on by pre menopause or menopause itself. Unfortunately, that is a very controversial method. It has gotten a lot of bad publicity and despite significant advances, this reputation makes a lot of women wary of trying it. There are, however, many herbal supplements and the like which also seem to help.

Hot flashes are not the only catalyst though. It is very common to feel incredibly anxious during the perimenopausal and menopausal years. This can also affect your ability to sleep. Anxiety causes stress, stress makes relaxation impossible, and it is fruitless to try and sleep when you cannot relax enough.

Medications – even supplements – aside, there are also a lot of natural ways to combat menopausal insomnia. For starters, try keeping your room cool and comfortable as you sleep. It is better to sleep in a cool room with extra blankets that can easily be kicked off than to sleep in a hot room that will quickly become stifling and smothering during a hot flash. You should also try to relax before you go to sleep. Take a bath, read a book, mediate: do something calming for a couple of hours, something away from the TV, the phone, and the computer. Setting up a routine at night can also be beneficial. Your body will get used to winding down and going to sleep at the same time. Lastly, try eating foods that help your body produce serotonin. These include rice, turkey, chicken, and bananas.