Insomnia is defined as the difficulty that a person suffers to fall asleep or stay asleep. The WHO estimates that approximately 10% of the world’s population suffers from this disorder . The data also indicates that 40% of the population suffers from it at some point in their life.
In order to determine if a person suffers from insomnia, the time it takes to fall asleep is calculated, as well as the total hours of sleep that they get. If it exceeds 30 minutes until falling asleep or does not reach 6 natural hours of sleep, that person may be suffering from this problem. When this situation is repeated for less than 3 weeks, we speak of occasional insomnia . On the other hand, if it exceeds it, the typology of the disorder is considered chronic .
In an emotional relationship, it is usual that if one of the two people suffers from this problem, the other tries to alleviate or improve their situation. However, a study by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has determined that this “help” from the partner can become an obstacle to overcome insomnia .
To reach this conclusion, the team studied a total of 31 couples seeking treatment for insomnia. First, people without the disorder completed questionnaires that were based on the Family Accommodation Scale, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Insomnia patients completed other questionnaires based on the Insomnia Severity Index and, in turn, kept a sleep diary for a week before starting treatment.
The results obtained show that most of the people without the sleep problem involuntarily stimulated their partner behaviors that were contradictory to the treatment. 74% recommended going to bed early or getting up later, which is in direct conflict with the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. 42% also encouraged activities in bed, such as reading or watching television. And 35% encouraged naps, caffeine, or reduced daytime activities.
“It is possible that couples inadvertently perpetuate the symptoms of insomnia in the patient,” says Alix Mellor , postdoctoral researcher and coordinator of the Researching Effective Sleep Treatments project at Monash University School of Psychological Sciences, Australia.
The results also show that the affected person’s colleagues also suffered modifications in sleep and life outside of work. According to the researchers, this may explain why couples who tried to be helpful experienced more anxiety , although patients with insomnia perceived the relationship to be more satisfying.
“Our preliminary results suggest that while some of these behaviors make the patient feel supported, their partner may be experiencing more anxiety,” says Mellor.
Sleeping in the same bed also influences
As a study presented at the British Science Association festival suggests, sleeping in separate beds could be good for your relationship.
In fact, sleep science specialist Neil Stanley says that 50% of couples have their sleep affected by sleeping together . Stanley, who does not sleep in the same bed as his wife, assures that historically “the man is not prepared to share a bed.” And he argues that the fault that this situation is now understood as normal is the Industrial Revolution, when people went to cities full of people where they did not have space. “In ancient Rome, the marital bed was only a place for sexual intercourse, not for sleeping,” adds the researcher.
The study reveals that poor sleep is linked to possible depression, heart problems, strokes, lung disorders, work and traffic accidents, and even divorces (despite the fact that this relationship has been ignored as an important aspect for health). “It’s about what makes you happy. If you sleep with your partner and you both sleep well, then you don’t need to change. But don’t be afraid to try something different,” he recommends.
