TRAINING  &  COACHING  for  MANAGERS & LEADERS

Case Histories

Insomnia, Sleep Disorders & Relationships

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How well do you sleep?

You or your partner may experience sleep problems sometimes. If you ignore these problems, you may start sleeping habits that can interfere with your enjoyment of life. Your sleep patterns may be disturbed by stress from your work, from your partnership, from family challenges or from your health.

If you feel stressed you may experience difficulties in sleeping - and difficulty sleeping may increase your stress. Systemic coaching can help people who

• have difficulty falling asleep
• wake up frequently at night with difficulty returning to sleep
• wake up too early in the morning
• have unsatisfying sleep
• have anxiety dreams or nightmares

Your tiredness may cause you to feel low on energy, irritated and to have difficulty concentrating.

Insomnia can be transient (short term), intermittent (on and off), or chronic (constant). Insomnia from a single night to a few weeks is called transient. If transient insomnia occurs occasionally, it is called intermittent. Insomnia is called chronic if it occurs most nights for over a month.

[ Side Effects of Drugs ] [ Stress ] [ Depression ] [ Schizophrenia ]

Causes of Insomnia

About 75% of all cases of insomnia are related to the emotional stress about relationship problems. If you suffered the death of a parent, or the loss of a partner, or a job, you might feel frustrated or depressed and you may have trouble sleeping.

Systemic coaching can help you if

• your life, or some part of it, does not make sense
• you have a history of depression
• you feel guilty about something done or not done

Chronic Insomnia

Chronic insomnia may be related to mental or physical disorders. It is associated with depression, which often accompanies a lack of purpose. See Meaning of Life

Chronic insomnia may also be related to misuse of caffeine, alcohol, or other substances; disrupted sleep cycles with shift work or other nighttime activity; and chronic stress. If you want to worsen insomnia, you can:

• expect to have difficulty sleeping and worry about it
• ingest excessive caffeine (excessive for you, that is)
• drink alcohol before bedtime
• smoke cigarettes before bedtime
• nap in the afternoon or evening
• work rotating shifts or frequently change time zones

We can help you change these and similar behaviors.

Narcolepsy

The sleep disorder called narcolepsy is like an extension of dreaming into waking. Its symptoms include excessive sleepiness; weak muscles during strong emotions and vivid dreams.

Symptoms often begin after puberty or during young adulthood, when excessive sleepiness produces sleep attacks. This can result in sleeping at school, work and social events; and while eating, talking or at other inappropriate times.

There is no accepted cure for narcolepsy; although the symptoms are often controlled with stimulants, antidepressant drugs; regulating sleep, and/or controlling emotional reactions. Then, most people with narcolepsy can enjoy a near-normal lifestyle. Otherwise, narcolepsy may have strong social, educational and financial consequences.

Soulwork coaching includes a form of hypnotherapy in which we can help you reassemble your dreams or nightmares from the inside. It is often profoundly effective, even for children.

How are sleep disorders diagnosed?

A doctor can evaluate symptoms with the help of your sleep history - perhaps from a sleep diary or from an interview with your bed partner. Sleep studies may be recommended if a doctor suspects that you may have a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea or narcolepsy.

How can you resolve chronic insomnia?

Relationship and guilt problems may reduce sleep, especially if you concentrate or focus on them. We may be able to help you resolve chronic insomnia by:

• Coaching you through any underlying emotional problems
• Resolving relationship problems
• Identifying, stopping or reducing behaviors that may prevent your sleep

Soulwork coaching can take many forms, depending on what you want and what you are willing to take responsibility for. As most of your emotions originate in your relationships, by making your relationships healthy you simultaneously clarify and make peace with your emotions.

The long-term use of sleeping pills should be under the supervision of a physician to evaluate effectiveness and minimize side effects. Usually, these drugs are prescribed at the lowest dose and for the shortest duration needed to relieve the sleep-related symptoms. The dose can be gradually lowered; if stopped abruptly, insomnia can re-occur. See Side Effects of Prescription Drugs

Your doctor may prescribe sleeping pills (barbiturates or tranquillizers). Barbiturates are considered to be less effective than tranquilizers. Minor tranquilizers may be used for a few nights to restore your sleep cycle and to reduce anxiety, but are not recommended as a long-term treatment.

You can also identify and attempt to resolve any problems that may prevent your sleep. Sometimes Sexual Issues may prevent sleep - see Sexual Solutions

Relaxation Therapy

You can reduce or eliminate anxiety and body tension, so that your mind can stop "racing," your muscles can relax, and you can sleep. It may take time for you to learn relaxation techniques and to relax quickly and effectively. Soulwork coaching can accelerate your learning.

First you learn to relax physically; until this is quick and simple. Learning to relax mentally can be more difficult but Soulwork can help you make it easy . You can learn to be a sleep expert.

Sleep Restriction

Do you spend too much time in bed unsuccessfully trying to sleep? You may benefit by creating a sleep restriction program that at first allows you to only sleep a few hours. You gradually increase your sleep time until you can sleep normally.

Other Solutions for Insomnia

See Little Prince, Daddy's Princess, Partnership and Emotional Incest for long-term solutions for common relationship entanglements. Other solutions may include:

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