Sleep Problems When You’re a Caregiver

I’m doing double duty this month during the A to Z Blogging Challenge. Here at Facing Cancer with Grace, I will focus on caregiving. I’ll also be doing the challenge at Heather Erickson Author/Writer/Speaker, where I will share ways to increase your creativity. I hope you’ll visit me at both sites. While you’re here, sign up for my email list. Today’s post is S for Sleep Problems when You’re a Caregiver.

I’ve always been a nighttime person. I used to blame it on working the night shift as a nursing assistant when I was younger, but my night owl habits go back even further than that. Still, I was always able to get enough sleep. Then my husband was diagnosed with cancer and that changed. In the early days, when we were waiting for test results to come back, I laid awake staring at the ceiling, wondering what the future would hold. When we knew it was cancer, grief set in, making it impossible to relax.

The Effects of Electronics on Sleep

I filled the quiet, nighttime hours with books and video games that I could really immerse myself into so I wouldn’t have to think about my own life. All of this was understandable. It was even okay for a little while, but it didn’t change anything—except my sleep habits. Blue light made falling asleep even more difficult than it had been before.

It can be difficult to forgo electronics in the evening. If you can’t shut them down early, you can at least minimize their impact on your ability to sleep by using a blue light filter. I highly recommend a free one called f.lux. I used it and it has helped me tremendously. You can even try different filters and color schemes to see what works best for you. You can download it for free HERE.

Eventually, I did a digital detox and it really improved the quality and the quantity of my sleep. You can read about it on my website, Heather Erickson Author/Writer/Speaker.

His Side Effects Affected My Sleep

Then Dan began treatment, and we had to adjust to the side effects and how they affected our sleep. Yes, I said “OUR sleep.” He had terrible night sweats, early on. When he woke up and went to the kitchen or the bathroom. I would jump out of bed and quickly strip the sweat-soaked sheets off, and replace them with dry ones before he returned. By then, I was wide awake from the rapid sheet-change and I would have to try to fall asleep, all over again. This often happened 2-3 times each night. There were also nightmares that woke Dan with a start, and me along with him. He had nights of tremendous pain. Later, he had trouble breathing and I couldn’t sleep for fear something would happen to him while my eyes were closed. It was all very irrational.

Sleepless in Minneapolis

With these poor sleep habits, my own pain levels skyrocketed. My patience plummeted. Eventually, I saw a sleep specialist who did a sleep study on me. He decided that I was in a difficult position as a caregiver and for that reason was suffering from insomnia. He said there really wasn’t much he could do about it other than give me a sleep aid, which came with its own set of issues. I said thanks but no thanks and went home.

There is Hope

There are things you can do to make getting sleep easier. Some of the best advice to be found is on a website called Tuck.com. It’s not likely that you will sleep the way you did before you became a caregiver, but getting a good night’s sleep whenever possible will help you cope with the daily pressures of caregiving—and life in general.

Resources

I’m in the early stages of putting together a resource page for caregivers of cancer patients. I’d love it if you’d check it out and email me any suggestions of resources you’d recommend. While you’re here, sign up for my email list to get a periodic email newsletter to encourage you on your cancer journey.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

I’d love to hear in the comment section, below. I appreciate my readers as well as the writing community. To show that appreciation, I use Comment Luv. Just leave a comment below and your latest post will get a link next to it. Thank you!

ABOUT HEATHER ERICKSON

In 2012 doctors diagnosed my husband, Dan, with stage IV lung cancer. Since then, our family has been learning what it means to face cancer. I’ve focused my writing and speaking on helping cancer patients and their families advocate for themselves and live life to the fullest, in spite of their illness. My goal is to help people face cancer with grace.

My book Facing Cancer as a Friend: How to Support Someone Who Has Cancer, is available on Amazon.com

Also, check out Facing Cancer as a Parent: Helping Your Children Cope with Your Cancer.

Also, put your memories into words with The Memory Maker’s Journal.

I also blog at Heather Erickson Author/Writer/Speaker