The Session: Sleep Problems

This week, Scott & Tom begin a discussion of Sleep Problems. We stayed awake to record it, and we hope you will too! Christianity Today Our verse is Proverbs 3:24 “When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet." What keeps us from having sweet sleep? We are in our sub conscious mind when trying to go to sleep. It is the same part of us that fear and anxiety can bother us. Things that intercept good sleep Our Emotions example fear. Fear can fuel the blood stream with adrenaline which can cause obsessive thinking Depressed emotions can fuel unhealthy thinking which can keep a person awake. Treatment Possibilities Create a fear file Spend time googling Christian meditation and warship Not having a sleep schedule Sporadic bedtime can create an inability to sleep Treatment possibility Set realistic goals for bedtime and gradually work into a better schedule If you tend to be capable of rehashing things of the day you will struggle sleeping. Treatment Possibility Make a list of those things that were being rehash and in your mind. Second set a schedule time the next day to think about them. As you go to sleep take time to pray about them If you are one to read or use any other forms of technology you could have trouble sleeping. Research on this suggest that those devices that have a bright background are capable of keeping you awake More Behavioral treatments for insomnia * Improving “sleep hygiene”: Not sleeping too much or too little, exercising daily, not forcing sleep, maintaining a regular sleep schedule, avoiding caffeine at night, avoiding smoking, avoiding going to bed hungry, and ensuring a comfortable sleeping environment. * Using relaxation techniques: Examples include meditation and muscle relaxation. * Stimulus control therapy - only go to bed when sleepy. Avoid watching TV, reading, eating, or worrying in bed. Set an alarm for the same time every morning (even weekends) and avoid long daytime naps. * Sleep restriction: Decreasing the time spent in bed and partially depriving the body of sleep can increase tiredness, ready for the next night.