The quality and quantity of sleep can have a significant impact on a person’s wellbeing and quality of life. Being tired and unable to sleep can make physical symptoms and difficult emotions harder to manage. Difficulty sleeping can also lead to low mood and anxiety. Show
What causes sleep problems?There are many reasons why someone may have sleep problems or a change in their sleep patterns, and there is often more than one contributing factor. Common causes include:
Some people may already have had difficulty sleeping before they were diagnosed with a terminal illness. What can I do to help?There are practical things you can do to support someone to get good quality sleep. If you are concerned about uncontrolled symptoms, or if simple measures are not improving sleep, speak to the person’s GP or specialist nurse who can arrange further assessment and treatment. The person might also benefit from emotional support and relaxation therapies. Practical tipsCheck with the patient about what changes they want to make. The overall aim should be to improve their quality of life and make them as comfortable as possible. The following tips may help. During the day:
Managing symptoms:
Preparing for bed:
Sleeping environment:
Talking and wellbeingEncourage the person to talk about any worries or fears that are keeping them awake. They might benefit from talking to a professional such as a psychologist, counsellor, faith leader or spiritual advisor. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can be effective too. They may be able to access these services from their local hospice or through their GP. You could suggest free sleep apps or podcasts that are designed to help people fall asleep. Wellbeing therapies such as aromatherapy, massage or hypnotherapy might also be helpful. Medical managementIf you think that the patient may need medication to help them manage sleep problems, speak to their GP, district nurse or specialist nurse. There are different ways they can help:
Medicines might include:
End of life sleep changesPeople often become more drowsy and sleep more towards the end of life. This is one of many signs that a person may have when they are in their last few days and hours of life, but not everyone will experience this. Everyone is different. This may be concerning for family and friends as it can make communicating with their loved one more difficult. Read more about the signs that someone is in their last days of life. Management of sleep problems will change at this stage. It might not be appropriate to encourage someone to be active or to avoid sleeping during the day. Encourage the patient’s family to talk to them every now and then, to let them know they're close by. The patient may still be able to hear what is said, so it can be comforting to them if family and friends carry on talking to them. Remind them not to say anything that they wouldn’t want the patient to hear. How can I support family and friends?Sometimes people who have an altered sleep-wake cycle cannot get back into a normal rhythm of sleeping during the night and being awake during the day. They may prefer to sleep when they feel tired, regardless of the time of day. This can be difficult for family and friends as it means adjusting to a new pattern. Explain what’s happening to family and friends and help them to find new times to spend with the person. Sleep problems are also common in people who are caring for someone with a terminal illness. Family members and friends may be caring for someone overnight which will disrupt their sleep and could affect them during the day. They may also have difficulty sleeping due to stress or worries and fears about their loved one. Sleep problems are associated with depression in carers. You might find it helpful to share our information for carers on getting support for themselves. Useful resourcesNICE CKS: insomnia NHS information for patients and carers: insomnia Download My Learning form Key points
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Which psychological symptom is an indication of sleep deprivation quizlet?~Sleep-deprivation psychosis is a lost of contact with reality and causes confusion, disorientation, delusions, and hallucinations are typical.
Which of the following is an effective brief method for assessing sleep quality?16. Which of the following is an effective brief method for assessing sleep quality? Visual analogue scale.
Why am I not sleeping deeply?Taking naps or spending too much time in bed can weaken your sleep drive. You may lose some of your ability to sleep normally, and as a result, you may get less deep sleep. Substance use and medications. Caffeine, benzodiazepines , and opioid pain medications can all affect deep sleep.
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