I stepped out of my comfort zone this week: I auditioned for a role in Laurel Little Theater’s upcoming musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” What made an out-of- shape, middle-aged man think that he could sing and dance with the 20-somethings on stage? It might have something to do with the smash production of “Dreamcoat” that I saw LLT produce in 2009, which I still consider watching to be one of the best experiences that I have ever had inside a theater.
Nevertheless, I found myself desperately trying to dance, sing, and breath all at once to the groovy tunes of “Go-Go-Joseph.” After an hour of what most would consider to be light choreography, I was exhausted. Needless to say, I slept like a baby that night, but that isn’t necessarily true for many people in the world.
Sleep in today’s fast-paced world is harder to come by than it once was. Having a busy work life and becoming a new parent, I can personally attest that a full seven or eight hours per night has become a luxury. However, sleep fulfills a vital function in our bodies. Restoring energy, repairing damaged muscle tissue, and allowing the brain time to process new information are just a few of the benefits that a good night of rest can provide.
Whenever we are deprived of that much-needed slumber, we can lose our ability to think clearly, focus and even control our emotions. In addition, chronic sleep deprivation has been proven by researchers to increase your risk for serious health concerns such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity and depression.
One of the most common types of sleep trouble is insomnia, or the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep. Many who suffer from this report that they feel fatigued after sleeping. In some cases, insomnia is caused by a stressor or upsetting event. Those suffering from it often report that they feel as if they cannot “turn their minds off.” Any treatment for insomnia should focus on the root cause, particularly if it is psychiatric in nature.
Try to face the problem head-on and find a resolution to it. However, there are some suggestions in sleep habits that might also be helpful. Try to avoid caffeinated beverages within a few hours of bedtime. Also, try not to close your day with any physical activity.
Minimize the time you spend in bed when you are not trying to sleep; as in, do not watch TV in bed. Cell phones have also done amazing work at wrecking our sleep in the 21st century. Turn that phone off and don’t cruise social media while lying in your bed! The screen is stimulating your brain and causing it to retain sleep producing chemicals such as melatonin.
In severe cases, it is possible to talk with your physician and begin a prescription medication routine. I want to caution you that I believe medication should be a last resort. Generally speaking, the more that we can holistically treat our ailments and not rely on drugs, the healthier we become. That being said, there are many medication classes designed to help with insomnia. Benzodiazepines, for example, belong to a group called central nervous system depressants that slow the nervous down and cause sleepiness. Newer medications such as Ambien or Lunesta, causes sleepiness without the use of nervous system depressing, however, a risk remains. If you have liver or kidney disease, mention it to your physician before beginning any non-benzodiazepine medication designed for sleep.
Finally, there are certain medications for treating depression and anxiety that also treat insomnia such as Amitriptyline and Trazodone. These are particularly helpful when the sleeplessness is caused by a mental disorder.
No matter what your situation, do not take a good night sleep for granted. Make it a priority to get good, restorative sleep on a normal schedule. This is just as important to your overall health as exercise and eating right.
And, if you were curious, I did get a part in ‘Dreamcoat;’ the non-dancing, non-moving choir which I think suits my skills perfectly!
Stay safe out there.
If there is a topic that you would like me to explore, please drop me a line at eric.williams@jcjc.edu.
M. Eric Williams, MS, NR-P is a syndicated columnist and the Assistant Director of Emergency Medical Education at Jones County Junior College. He is a current Doctoral Researcher at Delta State University and has 15 years’ experience in Emergency Medicine.
