Losing someone you care about can throw your entire life into disarray, including your sleeping patterns. Night after night, many people find themselves awake in bed. They desperately want to sleep, but counting sheep isn’t getting them any closer to falling asleep. Without sleep, you can only function for so long before it starts to affect your personal and professional life.
There are some things you can do to help yourself if you’re having trouble sleeping after losing a loved one. Here are some suggestions for getting your sleep back on track so you can resume your normal routine:
Follow a Regular Sleep Schedule
Many people find that their entire routine is thrown off course when a loved one passes away. They stay up far too late and sleep in far too frequently. Following a regular sleep schedule is the most important thing you can do to restore your sleep after losing someone. A sleep schedule assists your body in physically adjusting to sleeping at specific times. This means you go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. It’s even better if you stick to a schedule seven days a week rather than sleeping in for a few hours on your days off.
Create a Bedtime Routine
Although the concept of a bedtime routine may appear childish, it is critical for everyone. You should have a nightly routine that signals to your body that it is almost time to sleep. Before turning off the light, you could journal, take a quick shower, or read a chapter from your favourite book. Your bedtime routine can be as individual as you are. After a while, your body will learn to associate these activities with sleep, and you will be able to fall asleep much more quickly.
Pay Attention to Children
In the aftermath of a loved one’s death, children are especially vulnerable to disrupted sleep cycles. They may be overcome by perplexing emotions such as sadness and worry. They may have trouble sleeping due to recurring nightmares, depending on the situation. Giving children extra attention during this difficult transition is the best thing you can do to help them cope with grief.
This may imply that you pay them more individual attention, which may allow them to open up about their problems. You might also want to talk to a professional therapist about how to help them process their feelings about the loss. Whatever you choose to do, keep in mind that young children are vulnerable.
Exercise Regularly and Eat Well
If you haven’t used your body enough during the day, it won’t be ready to sleep. Regular exercise depletes your muscles and prepares you for a restful night’s sleep. Additionally, exercise has been shown to improve your mood, so your sadness may be temporarily alleviated after a good workout.
In addition to exercise, you should think about what you’re putting into your body. Even if you’re craving junk food, make sure you’re nourishing yourself with healthy foods. Because what you eat has a direct impact on your mood, make every effort to eat healthily during this time.
Consider Different Forms of Bodywork
Aches and pains, headaches, and even a clenched jaw are all common physical manifestations of grief. You may find it difficult to relax and unwind at the end of the night because of these psychosomatic symptoms. Having someone work on the physical side of your grief with bodywork such as massage can help you reclaim some of your normal sleeping patterns.
Acupuncture, like massage, can help with grief. Acupuncture has been shown to be effective in the treatment of depression in some studies. While grief may not progress to a full-blown depressive episode, this type of bodywork may provide some relief from your symptoms.
Avoid Drugs and Alcohol
At times, dealing with your grief may feel uncomfortable and even impossible. Many people try to fall asleep each night by self-medicating with drugs and alcohol. Regrettably, this may not have the desired outcome. While drugs and alcohol may help you fall asleep faster, they have been shown to disrupt your sleep patterns, resulting in you not feeling refreshed when you wake up. Not to mention the possibility of developing an addiction or dependency on these chemicals as a coping mechanism for your emotions.
Instead of self-medicating, consult your doctor about using a sleep aid or natural supplements like melatonin for a limited time. These can be useful tools for assisting others.
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