There’s not much beyond snoring complaints that’s been written about sleep problems of couples, or families or groups, for that matter. Couples present subtle and complex sleep issues. Of course there are problems with one lark and one owl, as well as with couples on different shifts. Some couples begin sleeping apart when instead they might have been able to work out a win … [Read more...]
A New Sleep Medication – Belsomra
A new medication for insomnia, Belsomra (made by Merck) has been approved by the FDA and should be available later this year. It is the first available drug to block orexin circuits in the brain. Orexin is one of several neurotransmitters which turn on the sleep-wake switch in the brain. Orexin tends to be low or missing in narcolepsy. Belsomra (generic name suvorexant) … [Read more...]
William Wordsworth Quote Invokes Thoughts on Sleep
I was re-reading a William Wordsworth sonnet and was struck by this couplet about the peacefulness of London at dawn in 1802. Dear God! the very houses seem asleep; And all that mighty heart is lying still! - William Wordsworth But in our 24-hour sleepless world I wonder what William Wordsworth would say today? … [Read more...]
Reading a Good Book – “Dangerously Sleepy”
I've been reading "Dangerously Sleepy" by Alan Derickson. The book describes disrespect of sleep as part of late 20th century emphasis on work flexibility, being able to tackle anything in a "manly" way; need for sleep as a weakness; disregard of human rights; disastrous consequences such as oil spills, nuclear reactor problems, transportation accidents. I am also … [Read more...]
Why a Sleep Advocate?
Sleep is disrespected: It is a bad habit. It wastes time. It prevents flexible schedules. Robots don’t need to sleep. I’ll catch up on the weekend--I only need four hours. Sleep is for sissies. Let’s pull an all-nighter. Over the past ten years, I began to hear more and more of these attitudes in my psychiatric practice. I saw more people in my waiting room who had to be … [Read more...]