It’s bad enough having trouble sleeping one night, try having months of it and you’ll know what it’s like to be an insomniac. Sufferers of sleep problems seldom get the sympathy or the support they need. Why? Simply, because it’s not seen as serious, let alone ‘real’ condition.

Many people, who have trouble sleeping, feel that their symptoms and problems are ignored not just by their colleagues, friends and family, but by their doctors. Yet, insomnia is a real problem and it affects millions of lives. It’s bad enough feeling tired after one night of little to no sleep, but to suffer frequent bouts of poor sleep, really does more than make one feel a bit groggy.

Aside from making you feel like a sack of beaten bones, supported by only a thin thread, it affects concentration, confidence and mood. It can also lead to an assortment of mental illnesses and put a serious strain on your health and immune system.

Another factor contributing to the number of insomniacs and long-term sufferers is the lack of sleep knowledge by medical professionals. Most doctors know very little about the effects of insomnia and more importantly, how to deal with it.

More often than not, the unsuspecting patient who has trouble sleeping, is escorted out of the doctors surgery with a pat on the back and a good dose of “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine” – 1 month down the line, an insomniac is born.

The truth is, you can find out more about your condition, the causes, and even how to remedy it – without the help of you doctor. Obviously I’ not telling you to go out of your way to avoid medical professional help, but if you’re having trouble sleeping and your doctor is no help – it’s not the end of the line.

Jumping on the bandwagon and requesting prescription medication will, in most cases be a long-term hindrance. Understandably, sometimes it can seem the only way out. Be a little wary if your doctor on your first visit, prescribes you with sleep medication before you’ve even told him the frequency of trouble sleeping. There may be less than honorable reasons for this.

It’s true many doctors are coaxed into prescribing the latest designer drug by salesmen, direct from the pharmaceutical companies. If you have trouble sleeping, consider alternative drug-free methods and remedies.

Unconventional medicine and therapies such as hypnosis, acupuncture and reflexology are only seen as ‘unconventional’ because most people who live in the western world have become accustomed to taking medication, whether it’s over-the-counter or prescribed.

A patient, who has trouble sleeping, is often left to their own defenses, their symptoms and seriousness of their condition ignored. Fact is most doctors have little to no knowledge on how to handle patients with insomnia. There only fall back is to prescribe prescription medication. But surely there is a better way. If you have trouble sleeping, learn more about sleep facts and how to beat insomnia below: