Insomnia – the Curse of Caregivers

August 29th, 2009 · No Comments

Welcome back!

Caregivers, especially those who live in the same home as the one they are caring for, often have a difficult time getting a full night sleep. Whether the needs of their loved one keeps them awake, or the worry, strain, and stress inherent in their role as a caregiver weighs on their mind, eventually the lack of sleep takes its toll.

One of the main complaints caregivers express in forums or on surveys is their struggle with exhaustion due to their inability to sleep through the night. Unfortunately, insomnia eventually takes its toll on the person who cannot sleep.

Lack of adequate sleep can result in:

Daytime sleepiness
Decreased alertness
Decreased energy
Decreased memory
Decreased ability to think and process information
Decreased energy to participate in normal daily activities
Increased stress when dealing with others
Increased risk of automobile accidents or job injuries

When insomnia, otherwise known as chronic sleep deprivation, continues for more than several nights, serious long-term effects can include:

Heart problems including heart attacks or strokes
Blood pressure problems
Obesity
Mental problems
Depression

A caregivers quality of life decreases dramatically the longer the insomnia continues, thereby adding to a greater possibility of emotional, mental, and physical problems now or down the road.

The first step to overcoming insomnia is to recognize you have a problem sleeping. Do not think that you are only sleeping three to five hours at a time, or less, because you don’t need any more than that to keep yourself well-rested.

Be kind to yourself by seeking professional help. Talk to your family physician, a qualified counselor, or a minister to help identify the cause of the insomnia or to share what is on your mind.

Care for yourself first

As a caregiver, it is important for your role caring for your loved one that you stay strong and healthy. As a person, your number one priority should be your own health and safety. You need to be concerned about your own quality of life, mainly because when your care giving days are over you will want to go forward and live the best life you can.

If you are suffering from insomnia, the time to take care of the problem is now before serious side affects take their toll. Do not allow lack of sleep to ruin your health.