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Catching Some ZZZZs: Safe Ways To Get to Sleep

Sara Bellum


Everyone has trouble sleeping sometimes for many different reasons, like stress and anxiety, or disorders like sleep apnea.

Some people are prescribed sleep aids called sedatives, a type of central nervous system depressant, to help them sleep. When used as prescribed—and only by the person they were prescribed for—sedatives are safe and effective for helping people sleep.

When abused to get high or even to get sleep, sleep aids can be dangerous, something most teens don’t know. Abusing sleep aids can even be deadly if they are mixed with other substances like alcohol or certain allergy medications because they can slow heart rate and respiration.

Six Tips To Help You Sleep

If you have consistent trouble getting to sleep, talk to your doctor about it. Meanwhile, here are some things you can do to help you get the 9 hours of sleep you’re supposed to have as a teen.

  • Skip the caffeine. Drink a decaf latte or stick with water. Caffeine is a stimulant and can affect you for up to 24 hours and also cause you to wake often.
  • Keep a routine. Prime your body for sleep—go to bed at the same time each night and wake up at the same time each morning.
  • Exercise, but not before bed. Staying active can help you sleep better, but don’t exercise within 3 hours of going to bed because it can actually wake you up.
  • Block out the light. Cover your windows with heavy curtains or blackout shades. You might even try a sleep mask.
  • Use your bed for sleep. It may be tempting to check Twitter or Facebook before you go to sleep, but it’s best for your brain to associate your bed only with sleep, not socializing, work, or reading. Studies have shown that the computer screen’s bright light can reduce your body’s melatonin levels, which disrupts normal sleep cycles.
  • Try some toast. Carbohydrates like bread, graham crackers, pretzels, and fruit can help make you feel warm and lead you to feel sleepy.

Do you have any ideas that work when you can’t sleep? Tell us in the comments.


Do not use medicine to have a sleep, to have sleep from 6 to 8 hours is recommended, in morning go for a jogging if your routine is tough you get good sleep at night and if you are spending lazy day you did not get good sleep.
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Really good tips!i alays suffer from non sleaping and now what to avoid and wat will help me thanks ..[commercial link removed, per guidelines].

Skip the caffeine. Drink a decaf latte or stick with water. - I CAN'T
The rest is OK!
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maybe because your brain still functioning. You think of many things that you even forget to sleep. Make a daily routine for you to have a good sleep. Exercise every morning, make it a habit in your waking hour. [commercial link removed, per guidelines]

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