Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mike on March 27, 2009 at 9:15pm

Ruth, sleep researchers have long held that our bodies accumulate a sleep debt or sleep deficit, and just like any other debt, it must be paid back.... or else. basically, we develop disease and illness to the extent this sleep debt is not repaid, and also become more absent minded and have trouble learning/making sound judgments. it's really a big deal. but i believe you can reverse some of these chronic problems by repaying your sleep debt.

Permalink Reply by Ruth Rayceen on March 27, 2009 at 10:00pm

Mike, I am going to print your reply, and read it when I don't want to go to bed, which is every night of my life. I am interested in politics and I could easily curl up in a recliner and watch them all night long. It didn't used to be unusual for me to stay up all night, and be the typical A+ person in the day time and go full steam. Something in my body has changed recently. I have pulled one or two all nighters, recently and find I am scarely able to function in the a.m.

Perhaps since I don't pay attention to my needs, the words of a stranger who is willing to give me advice, can help me.
I do appreciate your input. You must be very familiar with sleep needs. Did I guess right?
RR

Permalink Reply by Mike on March 27, 2009 at 10:18pm

I'm not a doctor, but as a patient, I've really taken an interest in how sleep impacts my health. I also am fortunate enough to have the benefit of the wisdom of the Stanford Sleep Clinic as my hometown sleep center, so I learn a lot from the guys who are on the cutting edge of this new field of medicine. I know of the perfect book for you, if you're up for reading one: it's called The Promise of Sleep, by Dr. William Dement. You can pick it up on Amazon for a pretty good price I'm sure. Dr. Dement is known as the "Father of Sleep Medicine," and does a great job in this book explaining the physiological importance of sleep.

By the way, I'm a news junkie myself. Which is part of the problem -- we never have to turn off all the information coming at us these days -- with 24-7 news channels, the internet, etc. Makes it all the more important to fight back and get what nature intends us to have -- a quiet, peaceful, and dark place to sleep each night.

Ruth Rayceen said:

Mike, I am going to print your reply, and read it when I don't want to go to bed, which is every night of my life. I am interested in politics and I could easily curl up in a recliner and watch them all night long. It didn't used to be unusual for me to stay up all night, and be the typical A+ person in the day time and go full steam. Something in my body has changed recently. I have pulled one or two all nighters, recently and find I am scarely able to function in the a.m.

Perhaps since I don't pay attention to my needs, the words of a stranger who is willing to give me advice, can help me.
I do appreciate your input. You must be very familiar with sleep needs. Did I guess right?
RR

Permalink Reply by Butch Hernandez on March 27, 2009 at 11:52pm

I would like to suggest that you start a routine prior to going to bed. In the sleep world, it is referred to as "Sleep Hygiene". this is defined as the usual rituals you do prior to going to bed. Finding things to keep your self busy and/or taking on a time consuming activity, contribute to poor sleep hygiene. My suggestion is to establish a relaxing routine that involves less stimulating activities prior to going to bed. I would say start about 2 hours prior to bedtime. The idea is to slowly wind down and expose yourself to less and less stimuli. Once you find a nice calming routine, stick with it closely until you start noticing a change in bedtime. Hope this helps!

Permalink Reply by Mike on March 28, 2009 at 12:18am

100% agree with Butch. Here's more on Sleep Hygiene

Butch Hernandez said:

I would like to suggest that you start a routine prior to going to bed. In the sleep world, it is referred to as "Sleep Hygiene". this is defined as the usual rituals you do prior to going to bed. Finding things to keep your self busy and/or taking on a time consuming activity, contribute to poor sleep hygiene. My suggestion is to establish a relaxing routine that involves less stimulating activities prior to going to bed. I would say start about 2 hours prior to bedtime. The idea is to slowly wind down and expose yourself to less and less stimuli. Once you find a nice calming routine, stick with it closely until you start noticing a change in bedtime. Hope this helps!

Permalink Reply by Ruth Rayceen on March 28, 2009 at 12:39am

Butch, I'm not having much luck pressing the reply marker at the bottom of your message. My dh has given up on getting me to bed, and as I said to Mike, perhaps I can pay more attention to the message of strangers, who have the experience to see that my love of the night time hours, is so determental to my health. It is too late now, but I am printing your messago also, and I plan to TRY to follow it tomorrow night. Thanks for the excellent suggestion. RR

Permalink Reply by Ruth Rayceen on March 28, 2009 at 12:16pm

Thank you Butch and Mike. I posted a reply to the sleep trips that you may never notice. There I compared myself to a smoker who ignores the health implications that accompany smoking. The health hazards of sleep deficit aren't as well published, but may be as determental. I want you both to know that your posts influenced me. I awakened around 5 am and lay there for a moment fighting temptation to turn on T.V. I have ignored my dh cautions for years - but two posts from strangers are influencing me thoughts, go figure. Anyway, I didn't get up, or turn on T.V.. It took me quite a while to go back to sleep because I was marvelling that I could change - hopefully it will be more than one night. Thanks to both of you, and I will appreciate further sleep suggestions. RR

Permalink Reply by Mike on March 28, 2009 at 12:55pm

Ruth, I have a hunch you'd really be well served by reading something scientific/medical about the importance of sleep (like the Promise of Sleep by William Dement which i recommended). Also, you might consider buying one or more of these products related to light and sleep Full disclosure: I have interests in ApneaLife.com. That said, the science behind these products is rock solid, and although ApneaLife.com is one of the only places where you'll find light-sleep products now, in a few years, everyone's going to be talking about the connection between light and sleep and the products designed on the basis of that connection.

Ruth Rayceen said:

Thank you Butch and Mike. I posted a reply to the sleep trips that you may never notice. There I compared myself to a smoker who ignores the health implications that accompany smoking. The health hazards of sleep deficit aren't as well published, but may be as determental. I want you both to know that your posts influenced me. I awakened around 5 am and lay there for a moment fighting temptation to turn on T.V. I have ignored my dh cautions for years - but two posts from strangers are influencing me thoughts, go figure. Anyway, I didn't get up, or turn on T.V.. It took me quite a while to go back to sleep because I was marvelling that I could change - hopefully it will be more than one night. Thanks to both of you, and I will appreciate further sleep suggestions. RR