Your mind is running a thousand miles per hour and you’re piling things on your to-do list. You’re anxious and nervous about your divorce, you can’t stop worrying about the terms in your child custody agreement, you just can’t seem to settle down… and you’re in bed, trying to fall asleep.
It’s not going to happen. Again.
Because divorce is one of the most stressful events you will ever go through, it’s important that you get your daily dose of sleep. Since you’re under so much stress, a good night’s sleep is kind-of like Bigfoot: some people swear that it exists, but you don’t believe it for a second.
Unwind: You’re Not a Machine
You just can’t function right if you can’t sleep during divorce. A good night’s rest is a must if you want to be in full control of your mental faculties and have all your coping mechanisms in place. Your immune system, your digestive system and your respiratory system don’t do what they’re supposed to do if you’re tired, either.
People who lack sleep suffer from lapses of attention, delayed reaction times and headaches; worse, they’re flirting with a whole host of life-threatening health problems.
Basically, you’re not operating at maximum potential if you’re over-tired. When you can’t shut off your brain in order to get the rest you need, it’s time to take steps to correct the problem. Start by tucking away electronics at least an hour before bed and making sure you’re sleeping in a cool, dark and quiet environment.
Relaxation Techniques
Sometimes simple relaxation techniques, particularly those that require you to focus on something specific, can help you doze off more quickly. While they don’t work for everyone, they’re worth a shot. The University of Maryland Medical Center provides guidelines for a handful effective relaxation techniques as well as complementary downloads of helpful tracks that work together to help people fall asleep.
Therapy
If relaxation isn’t cutting it, ask your Durham divorce lawyer if he or she can give you a referral to a local counselor or therapist; you can also ask your primary care physician. There might be another cause for your inability to sleep, and having a medical professional evaluate your situation might be the only way to get effective relief.
