Have you ever appreciated your ability to sleep? Now, you will wonder if being able to sleep is something to be praised. Yes, give yourself an applause for you have been given the best gift ever and you will have to cherish this gift. The poem ‘The Sleep’ by Elizabeth Barrett Browning brings out the importance of sleep and why it is to be cherished.
Of everything we have known about God from psalms and hymns, the poet asks if there is any gift which surpasses His gift – the sleep. As humans, what can we give to our loved ones? We can give the hero’s courage and determined heart to confront all the troubles; we can give them a poet’s lyrical verse to move them to ecstasy; we can give them a patriot’s voice to guide them through hurdles and motivate them; we can give them a ruler’s consolation to ease their burdens. But of everything we can give them, there is nothing that will surpass God’s gift to His beloved – the Sleep.
“He giveth His beloved, sleep”
Sometimes we give our beloved words of consolation and sometimes we add to their difficulties, making their whole world burdened. But God’s gift – Sleep – puts an end to all such sufferings. No matter what words of consolation we say, we can’t solve the problems of our beloved. When things get hard and we have no words of consolation, all we can say to our beloved is to sleep.
“ ‘Sleep soft, beloved!’ we sometimes say,”
We say so, hoping that no bitter memories of hardships shall disturb their ‘happy slumber’. When we sleep, we forget our bad experiences and experience eternal peace. So, this peace gives us hope and when we wake up the next morning, we are prepared for the day. Now is there any gift which surpasses sleep?
Our earth is full of dreary noises and wailing voices of despair. We chase after money, wealth and other material prospects which might leave us anytime. So, God silences these wailings by putting everyone to sleep. God has created this earth and all natural elements and we humans sow and reap. Thus, Sleep is more delicate than the dew drops and clouds. It makes us feel as if we are on a delightful journey and makes us feel lighter.
We go on living, thinking, and feeling without even realizing what keeps us going everyday. It is the sleep which keeps us going everyday. When we sleep, we forget the hardships of today, and hope for a better tomorrow.
“Aye, men may wonder while they scan
A living, thinking, feeling man
Confirmed in such a rest to keep;”
Our world is a stage and we are like a tired child watching the performance of the mummers on the stage. So when our eyelids droop, we rest like a child on God’s lap. So, no matter how exhausted we are, it is the sleep which rejuvenates us at the end of the day.
The last stanza ends with the poet asking her friends not to mourn or weep when she dies, for she is just going to an eternal sleep and a state of peace after all.
“Let One, most loving of you all,
Say, ‘Not a tear must o’er her fall;
He giveth His beloved, sleep.’“
The poem makes us understand how blessed we are to be able to sleep. We should no longer take our sleep for granted. Sleep improves both our mental and physical health. So, sleeping is the best thing ever. Finally, think if there is a greater gift than sleep.
A person can take a sleeping pill as a short-term solution if lifestyle adjustments have not worked.
Many people may not need sleeping pills.
By practicing good sleep hygiene, exercising, and avoiding alcohol and nicotine, an individual can often improve their sleep cycle and prevent insomnia.
Insomnia involves having trouble falling or staying asleep. People with insomnia may wake up too early or not feel refreshed upon waking.
If lifestyle adjustments do not work, for example when insomnia is severe, a sleeping pill may be a good short-term solution.
Avoid the long-term use of sleeping pills, because it can make insomnia worse, especially if a person stops taking the pills.
The range of sleeping pills includes supplements and over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription drugs. Anyone with ongoing insomnia should consult their doctor about the best approach.
The following are some of the most effective sleeping pills.
Melatonin
When it gets dark outside, the brain produces a hormone called melatonin. This regulates the sleep-wake cycle by telling the body that it is almost time for bed.
The brain makes less melatonin when it is light out and more when it is dark, such as during the winter. Age also plays a role — the older a person gets, the less melatonin they produce.
Many sleeping aids contain melatonin. They tend to be most effective for people with circadian rhythm sleep disorders, which are problems with the timing of sleeping or waking up.
In recent years, manufacturers have marketed snacks and drinks that contain melatonin as “relaxation” products. Doctors do not know, however, if they are effective.
Melatonin supplements are available without a prescription from drug stores, supermarkets, and online shops. The pills tend to come in doses of 1–5 milligrams (mg), and a person should take them at bedtime.
Limited evidence suggests that melatonin can treat insomnia. However, though some findings have been mixed, most research indicates that it can reduce the amount of time it takes to fall asleep, including a 2017 meta-analysis published in the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews.
Sedating antihistamines
Sedating antihistamines can help people who have trouble falling or staying asleep.
Some OTC antihistamines, which people usually use to treat allergies, can cause drowsiness.
Though not all antihistamines have this effect, people sometimes use first-generation antihistamines, or sedating antihistamines, to promote sleep or relieve tension and anxiety.
The following are sedating antihistamines:
diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in Benadryl
doxylamine, the active ingredient in Unisom
cyclizine, the active ingredient in Marezine
Second-generation antihistamines are less likely to cause drowsiness. People use them to treat long-term allergy symptoms, and they are not effective as sleeping aids.
The following are nonsedating antihistamines:
cetirizine, the active ingredient in Zyrtec
loratadine, the active ingredient in Claritin
fexofenadine, the active ingredient in Allegra
A doctor may recommend a sedating antihistamine, but only as a short-term solution. Though they are not addictive, the body gets used to them quickly, so they become less effective over time.
Valerian root
Valerian root is common in herbal supplements and can improve sleep quality.
Valerian is a plant. People have used the medicinal properties in the root since the times of ancient Greece and Rome.
Valerian root is a common ingredient in herbal supplements that people use to improve sleep, relieve anxiety, and support relaxation.
The supplements come in many forms, such as teas, liquids, and capsules.
Several clinical studies show that taking valerian can improve impressions of sleep quality in people with insomnia. However, not enough evidence is available to confirm whether valerian root is an effective sleep aid.
Valerian root-based sleep aids are available in drug stores, health food stores, and online shops.
Hypnotics
Hypnotics are a group of sleeping medications only available by prescription.
A doctor may prescribe hypnotics to treat a number of sleep disorders, including insomnia. These medicines can also treat movement disorders that interrupt sleep, such as restless legs syndrome (RLS) and periodic limb movement disorder.
The most common hypnotic sleeping pills are:
zolpidem
zaleplon
eszopiclone
ramelteon
Doctors tend only to prescribe hypnotics for insomnia that is long-lasting and bothersome because the drugs can have side effects.
Another class of sedative-hypnotics, called benzodiazepines, can also treat insomnia. These medications include:
Always follow the instructions for OTC sleeping aids, including valerian products and antihistamines containing diphenhydramine or doxylamine.
The best time to take melatonin will depend on the nature of the sleep problem.
Sleeping pills for insomnia
A person with insomnia should take a sleeping aid just before or at bedtime.
Sleeping pills for jet lag
If tackling jet lag, take melatonin several hours before the intended bedtime every day throughout the trip and for a few days afterward. Doses of 0.5–5 mg tend to be sufficient.
Sleeping pills for shift work
For people with shift work, taking 2–3 mg of melatonin at the end of a shift can help prepare the body for bed.
Prescription sleeping pills
The right dosage and frequency will depend very much on a person’s condition and the type of medication.
Always follow the doctor’s instructions carefully.
People can feel tired and drowsy the day after taking sleeping pills.
Sedating medications, including antihistamines and hypnotics, can leave people feeling tired, drowsy, or groggy during the following day.
In older adults, using these pills can cause memory problems.
Some sleeping aids, when a person takes them to relieve insomnia, can make it more difficult to fall asleep without them.
No evidence suggests that using melatonin comes with serious risks. Researchers have yet to explore the long-term effects.
Do not take any sleeping aid before driving or operating machinery.
For many people, the risks of using prescription hypnotics outweigh the benefits. These medications are only suitable for short-term use. Most are habit-forming, meaning that they can be addictive, and they can also cause side effects.
Some side effects of prescription sleeping pills include:
drowsiness or dizziness during the day
confusion
problems with memory
balance problems
In rare cases, they can cause people to perform actions, including driving, walking, eating, or making phone calls, while asleep.
The safety profile of valerian root is still unclear. Possible side effects may include headaches, dizziness, itchiness, and stomach problems. Some people feel groggy or drowsy in the morning after taking valerian root.
Also, people who have taken valerian root for extended periods then stopped suddenly may experience withdrawal symptoms. People who stop taking benzodiazepines after long periods may experience similar symptoms.
Because the medical community is still unsure of the effects, women who are pregnant and children under 3 years of age should not use valerian.
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