What are Sleep Disorders?
Sleep disorders refer to a group of conditions that interfere with the ability to sleep well on a regular basis. They may involve trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or maintaining a regular sleep-wake cycle. These conditions can also result in excessive daytime sleepiness or difficulty staying awake. Sleep disorders can have a significant impact on an individual’s physical health, mental well-being, and daily functioning. Whether your loved one is dealing with insomnia, sleep apnea, or another sleep disorder, understanding how to offer support is essential, here are some tips on how to support a loved one struggling with a sleep disorder:
1. Educate Yourself About the Sleep Disorder
Learn about the specific sleep disorder (e.g., insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy) by reading reliable sources.
2. Encourage Healthy Sleep Hygiene
Don’t endorse unhealthy practices like staying up late or consumption of caffeine and alcohol close to bedtime.
3. Be Patient and Understanding
Sleep disorders tend to make people vulnerable to irritability, anxiety, or exhaustion, which may affect mood and behavior so emotional support is essential for their overall wellbeing.
4. Support Their Treatment Plan
5. Encourage Them to See a Sleep Specialist
A sleep specialist can provide tailored treatments that significantly improve symptoms.
6. Avoid Unhelpful Behaviors
Certain behaviors can worsen their sleep disorder or increase their stress, like:
Nagging: Constantly reminding them about their sleep or pressuring them to "just sleep" can increase anxiety and worsen symptoms.
Blaming: Avoid placing blame on them for their inability to sleep. Sleep disorders are often outside of a person’s direct control.
Co-sleeping if disruptive: If your own sleep is being disrupted by their disorder (e.g., snoring due to sleep apnea), consider sleeping in separate rooms temporarily so both of you can rest better.
7. Take Care of Yourself
Supporting someone with a sleep disorder can be emotionally and physically exhausting and can disrupt your own sleep if you share a room with them. Try practicing personal sleep hygiene and setting boundaries to ensure you too are having restful sleep.
References
American Academy of Sleep Medicine. (2023). Caring for someone with a sleep disorder. American Academy of Sleep Medicine. https://aasm.org/caring-for-someone-with-sleep-disorder
Morin, C. M., & Espie, C. A. (2020). The Oxford handbook of sleep and sleep disorders. Oxford University Press.
National Sleep Foundation. (2023). How to support someone with a sleep disorder. Sleep Foundation. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/supporting-someone-with-sleep-disorders
Perlis, M. L., Jungquist, C., Smith, M. T., & Posner, D. (2020). Cognitive behavioral treatment of insomnia: A session-by-session guide. Springer Publishing.
Schwartz, J. R. L. (2020). Insomnia and sleep disorders. In K. V. Badr (Ed.), Principles and practice of sleep medicine (7th ed., pp. 753–768). Elsevier.