Diagnosing The Cause Of Your Insomnia

Dec. 16, 2009 - PRLog -- To really understand insomnia you’re going to have to understand some basic anatomy and physiology, which we will discuss.  I’ll show you some tests you can do on your own to identify the cause of your insomnia and we’ll also discuss whether or not you should be taking medications for your insomnia.

As I have tried to come up with concrete answers to why people can’t sleep, I’ve done a lot of researching.  It’s during this research that I learned how a malfunction in the brain loop results in insomnia and a multitude of other health problems.  

Your brain controls and coordinates every function in your body and under normal conditions the cerebellum, which is the back bottom part of your brain, sends impulses to the to the main part of the brain, which in turn sends impulses to the brain stem.  The brain stem is made up of the mesencephalon on top, the pons in the middle & the medulla oblongata on bottom.  This path, cerebellum, brain, brain stem is called the ‘brain loop.’  

When this loop is short-circuited the brainstem, which is where the sleep center of our brain is located, becomes overactive and you can’t sleep.

So what goes wrong?  In a word, stress.  There are three kinds of stress - physical, chemical, and emotional.  When we are under stress the body releases stress hormones.  Stress is not necessarily a bad thing, however, if a stressful event is big enough or goes on long enough, then stress hormones can reach a level that is toxic, decreasing the impulses from the brain to the brainstem, thus interfering with the normal brain loop.

As I mentioned earlier the sleep center in located in the top of the brain stem and to function properly it is dependent upon the impulses from the brain.  Under normal conditions our brainstem is at it’s highest level of activity at about 3:00 PM.  After 3:00 it progressively slows until we fall asleep sometime in the evening.  It continues to stay slow until about 3:00 AM.  After 3:00 AM it progressively becomes more active, until you wake up in the morning.  

The signals for waking and sleep come from the brain.  When the brain doesn’t send enough impulses into the brainstem you can’t sleep.

So how can you tell whether there is a short circuit in your brain loop?

I should make it clear that none of these tests are specific to insomnia.  They simply test the neurological connection between the cerebellum, brain and brainstem.  If you do notice a problem though you should consider brain based therapy to end your insomnia.  

The first test I have for you is called heel to toe walking.  You’re going to need an open area where you won’t bump into anything.  With your eyes closed walk heel to toe, putting one foot directly in front of the other.  A normal test is you’re able to walk heel to toe without any swaying, falling or wobbling.  If you do sway or wobble one side you have a malfunction in your brain loop that may be causing your insomnia.  

The next test is called Finger to finger.  For this test you’ll sit down, take your right index finger and place it above your head so it’s pointing toward your left.  Then with your eyes closed bring up the tip of your left index finger to touch the tip of the right.  A normal test is you’re able to do that without any problem.  If you notice that you’re searching, you overshoot or miss entirely you’ve got a malfunction if your brain loop that could be causing your insomnia.

In this last test take your hands and lift them above your head.  Your elbows should be above your shoulders.  In this position open and close your hands as quickly as you can for 30 seconds.  There is a problem in this test if one hand  fatigues, tires out, becomes difficult or painful to do more than another.  

If you noticed a problem in doing any of these tests brain based therapy will end your insomnia.    

If you’ll go to www.askdrned.com you can get access free reports, podcasts, and videos providing you the most up to date and most relevant information on insomnia.  While there you can read my blog, connect with me on facebook, follow me on twitter and listen to my internet radio show.

If you would like to schedule a free introductory visit call my office at 801-225-1311.

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