I participated in an Ambassador program on behalf of Influence Central for Pernix Therapeutics. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

As you might recall from recent posts, I am following certain shut eye strategies to try to get a better night’s sleep. I have suffered from insomnia on and off for as long as I can recall. Sometimes I have a hard time going to sleep but, for the most part, it’s the staying asleep that is the problem for me. I tend to go to bed, sleep for 3-4 hours and then wake up without being able to go back to sleep. As I know many of you are suffering the same as me, I wanted to share my struggle and hopefully help you get a better night’s sleep as well.

My Two Month Journey To A Better Night’s Sleep

In my previous post I shared with you some tips that can help you get a better night’s sleep. These include things like increasing your activity early in the day, creating a comfy atmosphere conducive to restfulness, going dark before bed and, my personal favorite, signing off of digital devices at least an hour before bed.

As a blogger, I am on the internet all day. Literally. I always have the computer or the phone next to me, doing stuff online. I even had a bad habit of taking the phone to bed with me to make sure that I didn’t miss anything. Let me tell you, it’s really hard to get to sleep when you are constantly checking your phone. It’s also hard to stay asleep when your phone wakes you every time there is a noise, buzz or other kind of alert going off all night. So, I have been trying really hard to turn my phone down at night and step away from it at least an hour before bed.

I can’t say that I am perfect. However, I can say that on the nights when I ignore the phone around bedtime, I tend to get a better night’s sleep. I think it might be mostly because I am no longer as stressed. It’s hard to ignore responsibility when it’s right there beside you. I have learned over these past two months that it’s also my responsibility to get a good night’s sleep so that I can be healthy, too. Whatever alert that comes at night will also be there in the morning. I can address it them.

When Lifestyle Changes Don’t Guarantee A Better Night’s Sleep

I realize that many of you suffer a similar situation to mine. I also realize that, for some people, changes in lifestyle aren’t always enough to guarantee one a good night’s sleep. We are all different. For those people, there are other options. Asking for help is nothing to be ashamed of. You owe it to yourself to have the best life possible and that involves getting enough sleep.

There are now effective treatment options available for those suffering with insomnia, including SILENOR®, a prescription sleep aid that is used to treat people with insomnia who have trouble staying asleep.

· Most sleep medications help you fall asleep but don’t necessarily help you stay asleep. SILENOR® is a medication that actually helps you stay asleep throughout the night, for a full night’s sleep.

· It is not associated with a risk of abuse or physical dependence.

· If a better night’s sleep is evading you, be sure to talk it over with your doctor. Together, you can find a plan of action that is right for you.

· If you would like to learn more about how to achieve a full, uninterrupted night’s sleep, please visit Wanttosleepmore.com for more information.

SILENOR® is a prescription sleep medicine that is used to treat people with insomnia who have trouble staying asleep. Call your doctor if your insomnia worsens or is not better within 7 to 10 days. This may mean that there is another condition causing your sleep problem. Be sure that you are able to devote 7 to 8 hours to sleep before being active again. SILENOR® should be taken within 30 minutes of bedtime. Do not take with alcohol or with other medicines that can make you sleepy. If you are on a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) or have taken a MAOI within the past two weeks, you should not take SILENOR®. You should not take SILENOR® if you have an eye problem called narrow angle glaucoma that is not being treated, if you have severe urinary retention, or if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in SILENOR®. You should not drive or operate machinery at night after taking SILENOR®. Until you know how you will react to SILENOR®, you should be careful in performing such activities during the day following taking SILENOR®. Before you take SILENOR®, tell your doctor if you have a history of depression, mental illness or suicidal thoughts. You should call your doctor right away if after taking SILENOR® you walk, drive, eat or engage in other activities while asleep. Drowsiness is the most common adverse event observed in clinical trials. For more information, please see the complete Prescribing Information, including the Medication Guide, at https://www.silenor.com/Content/pdf/prescribing-information.pdf. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.