Meditation & Insomnia

CHRIS DALE, Inspired by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s wisdom Talks www.artofliving.org

- Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Are you having difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep? Do you wake up feeling unrefreshed? Perhaps you’ve noticed that your ability to function effectively is diminished or that you’re feeling tired and irritable a lot of the time. You may be suffering from insomnia. Short-term or transient insomnia is quite common and usually resolves by itself. However, insomnia is considered chronic if it persists beyond a few weeks.

Can meditation help in dealing with both transient and chronic insomnia? The answer is a resounding yes!

There is an abundance of evidence that regular meditation can improve sleep patterns, often dramatically. Research indicates that an overly aroused sympathetic nervous system is an important causative factor in chronic insomnia. It follows that practices that reduce nervous system arousal, such as meditation, can be very effective in relieving insomnia.

Our nervous systems are usually excessively aroused by stress, tension, overindulgence in stimulants such as tea and coffee, use of drugs, habits like going to bed late, getting insufficient rest, too much stimulation in the evenings through the TV or computer, and indulgence in dietary habits that don’t suit our constitution. Usually, however, insomnia results primarily from mental and emotional stress. Meditation is particularly helpful because it directly relieves the body/mind from stress.