Insomnia, Insanity And A World-Wide Credit Crisis: What’s Keeping You Awake?

Posted on 29. Oct, 2008 by Kerry Friesen, M.D. in Brain Health For The Busiest

Can’t sleep? You’re not alone. Some 40 million other people with over 70 different sleep disorders are keeping you company every night. Not much consolation, I know.

Now with a global economic meltdown looming on the horizon, chronic persistent insomnia is on the rise. People are not sleeping in ever increasing numbers.

A recent survey by NetDoctor that appeared in the BBC news blamed stress related to financial woes and the “credit crunch” as the most common cause for insomnia.

In another study of 1,000 randomly-selected HMO patients, people with insomnia were four times more likely to be diagnosed with major depression and twice as likely to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.

In fact, insomnia is known to precede virtually every major mental health disorder. By now you can see where this is going—-(if you’re not already sleep deprived that is).

We are facing an international fiscal, physical and metaphysical crisis! From a psychoneuroimmunology standpoint, sleep deprivation is a killer. No exaggeration.

In one study,the incidence of HIV infection, cancer and death increased after the death of a spouse.
(For the men reading this, replace spouse with 401K.) Yes poor taste I know.

Ok, what to do?

Here is what you need to know:

*Taking Bootzin To The Bedroom:

1. Go to bed only when you are sleepy
2. Use the bed for sleeping! No T.V., no reading.
3. If you can’t sleep, get out of bed!
4. Repeat steps #1, 2, 3 as necessary.
5. Get up at the same time every day, no exceptions.
6. No napping!

Enjoy Colin Hay’s lyrics and unique contribution to our clinical understanding of chronic insomnia.

For now, it’s “time to walk the street”…………

I can’t get to sleep, I think about the implications,
Of diving in too deep and possibly the complications,
Especially at night, I worry over situations, that,
I know will be alright, it’s just overkill……….

Day after day it reappears, night after night my heartbeat shows the fear,
Ghosts appear and fade away—-come back another day.

Overkill– Colin Hay

*Dr. Richard Bootzin applied stimulus-control therapy to counteract insomnia.

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13 Responses to “Insomnia, Insanity And A World-Wide Credit Crisis: What’s Keeping You Awake?”

  1. Jan

    29. Oct, 2008

    All makes sense. Heard something the other day about Vitamin D deficiency adding to sleep struggles. True or no?
    Thanks for your insights.

    Reply to this comment

  2. Kerry Friesen, M.D.

    29. Oct, 2008

    Hey Jan, as it turns out, Vitamin D is not really a vitamin at all but a neurosteroid with neuroprotective properties!

    Vitamin D receptors are expressed in just about every cell in the body including dendritic cells in the brain. Combine that with it’s powerful neuroimmunoregulatory functions and you have the foundations for a biochemical clock.

    Clinically however, vitamin D seems to benefit sleep primarily in people with restless leg syndrome associated with chronic renal failure receiving dialysis therapy. However, there are almost a million other good reasons to take it!

    Reply to this comment

  3. leslie

    30. Oct, 2008

    Hey Dr. Friesen….what about Magnesium? Does that help with insomnia? Are there other dietary supplements that would aid in restful r.e.m. sleep? Thanks, ~L

    leslie’s last blog post..Insomnia, Insanity And A World-Wide Credit Crisis: What’s Keeping You Awake?

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  4. leslie

    31. Oct, 2008

    duly noted!

    Reply to this comment

  5. Mercola

    31. Oct, 2008

    I have sleeping disorder and i only sleep 4 to 5 hours a day.that’s my big problem. i’ll try your suggestion and i want to say that i have a great time reading your post. another concern of mine is the only time i feel sleepy is when i’m in a moving car.

    Mercola’s last blog post..Insomnia, Insanity And A World-Wide Credit Crisis: What’s Keeping You Awake?

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  6. Kerry Friesen, M.D.

    31. Oct, 2008

    Mercola you may in fact be sleep deprived with an underlying sleep disorder if driving is when you feel most sleepy!

    The hypnagogic state induced by motion and driving can be overwhelming.
    Highway hypnosis or “white-line fever” is a dissociative state, a true “altered state of consciousness” and truly dangerous.

    Try the Bootzin techniques and consider Dr. Jeffrey Thompson’s Delta Sleep System to help retrain your brain.

    Here’s the link:
    http://www.neuroacoustic.com/sleepenhancement.html

    Reply to this comment

  7. Mercola

    04. Nov, 2008

    Thanks for your advice and for the link. i’ll read it now. this will be a great help for me. thanks again

    Mercola’s last blog post..Insomnia, Insanity And A World-Wide Credit Crisis: What’s Keeping You Awake?

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  8. Dino De Lellis

    19. Nov, 2008

    I agree , I too am prone to bouts of sleeplessness I really envy those who can sleep the moment their heads hit the pillows.

    My problem is that I’m a very light sleeper and the slightest sound can wake me up and it takes me quite awhile to get back to sleep , I have to find the right position , the right mind set etc…

    This list can be very helpful to me thanks !!

    Dino De Lellis’s last blog post..I’ll See You In Health! Stephen Colbert Rebuts Ridiculous Crestor Claim

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  9. Kerry Friesen, M.D.

    19. Nov, 2008

    Sleep is a learned process and we can develop bad sleep habits just like any other….The Bootzin technique works…give it a try and let me know how you’re doing!

    Reply to this comment

  10. Sandy

    18. Jan, 2009

    Something that has worked for me in addition to the tips above, is I work really hard to stop doing anything work or stress related at least 1 hour before I know I need to go to sleep. Sometimes when I am still thinking, it won’t stop…so stopping ahead, allows my mind to settle.

    Sandy’s last blog post..More Reasons I Love San Diego

    Reply to this comment

  11. Trade Credit

    30. Jan, 2009

    Interesting list.I too often have sleeping problems. But sometimes when I work out I just hit the bed and I’m sleeping in no time. Working out in the night is a odd time but at least it helps me sleeps. If i don’t work out I will be up till around 2-3 in the morning. And the next day is a total nightmare. Anyway, nice work with the list. Thank you. Cheers

    Reply to this comment

  12. Konferens Stockholm

    24. Feb, 2009

    Many many nights I’ve been up thinking what I’m going to do the next day expenses. So may sleepless nights. Maan. nowadays its a bit better but still got problems sleeping at times. Thanks for the tips. Definitely needed that.

    Reply to this comment

  13. Säljträning Säljutbildning

    14. Mar, 2009

    Vitamin D seems to benefit sleep primarily in people with restless leg syndrome. Stop using alcohol will work too.

    Säljträning Säljutbildning’s last blog post..Öka försäljningen

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