Hi Fambly -- This is a reply that I posted just now in Practitioner's Forum in response to a question about insomnia. I am posting it here because it may be useful info for anyone working with clients who have sleep issues.

Reply:

I would venture a wild guess and say that insomnia and fatigue are probably linked, LOL.

The causes are many, of course...Stress, (including emotional issues) caffeine, and pain are the commonest. If you can get to the origin of the sleeplessness, that will help. You can also ask where in his body he feels the greatest fatigue or tiredness, similar to asking where in your body do you feel the sadness, depression, etc.

Exercising just before bedtime is another cause of insomnia...you get all revved up doing exercise and then sleep is elusive. Perhaps a cup of camomile tea in the evening would help. How much coffee or caffeinated soft drinks is he consuming? Is he on any medication that causes insomnia? Prednisone and other steroids are famous for this...it it called "steroid insomnia." I can attest from experience: It is horrid.

Chronic pain is a huge culprit, and it can be minor but persistent discomforts, it doesn't need to be a severe pain. Does he have sleep apnea? People with sleep apnea are chronically fatigued, sleep very poorly, and become "testy" or grouchy.

Changing to a better bed or pillow might help, or adjusting the room temperature at night. Does he live in a noisy place, or is it quiet at night? Traffic noises, the neighbor's TV or loud music may be a factor. If noise is a concern, earplugs will help.

I know QT will help, but the best way to deal with insomnia is to find the cause and make whatever adjustments are pertinent. If all else fails, a visit to a sleep lab may provide a diagnosis for the problem. If it is sleep apnea, getting a diagnosis and treatment can be life-saving, because these folks have higher incidence of heart disease & stroke.

Does the person have diabetes or hormone imbalances? It can cause terrible insomnia. Gastric reflux and heartburn at night? Elevate the head of the bed 4-5 inches. (The entire bed) If he has tried sleeping in a recliner, for instance, and had relief and better rest, reflux may be a factor. Lie down, gastric acid flows up and then down into lungs, and it is called silent aspiration, & it is dangerous, eventually causing irreversible lung damage---->COPD.

Does he or she have any respiratory issues, like smoking or COPD? Asthma? Emphysema? Infection? Frequent colds or pneumonia? COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Perhaps it is a respiratory response to an allergen or toxic substance (out-gassing of carpeting, insecticides, cleaning products) in the home, so using the Core 2 allergy techniques may help.

When did the insomnia begin to be a problem? Was there any trauma or emotional upset around that time? Was there an illness or injury? Was there a new medication, a change in diet, a change in work hours? Death in the family? Breakup of a relationship? People who work rotating shifts suffer terrible insomnia...I would far rather have worked some single shift, rather than the odd shifts and call that I did work, doing Anesthesia for 40 years. My hours were all over the map, any time, spur of the moment...that is hard on sleep!

If insomnia is caused by short-term worries or stressful situations, some doctors will prescribe 3 to 7 nights of a mild sleeping pill, simply to "break the cycle" of insomnia that enables the person to catch up on lost sleep, breaking the cycle. In many instances, it's enough to restore the person to normal sleep/waking cycles. Like a re-set or a re-boot.

Understand that insomnia is multi-faceted and complex, allow for all possibilities, and go for it. Now you have some questions to ask the person to try to zero in on the cause. We are not doctors....so reminding your client to seek medical evaluation is appropriate if relief doesn't come quickly, because insomnia is part of many syndromes and illnesses that can be life-threatening, not to mention tiredness during the day that leads to accidents, errors and mishaps.

Insomnia is not a trivial annoyance....it is serious and life-changing, in a negative direction. There is help for it. Doctors will take a very detailed and extensive history, when working with clients in a sleep lab setting, then do the physical testing. People with sleep apnea say that their lives began anew, when treatment (such as CPAP at night) allowed them to get normal rest. (Continuous positive airway pressure.)

I hope this helps. I think I will post this reply in General Discussion just because I spent time on it, LOL, and others may find it useful.

Love to all.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Ali,