SLEEP AND SLEEPLESSNESS

Evening Star, Issue 20057, 24 December 1928, Page 7

SLEEP AND SLEEPLESSNESS

Not wakefulness in itself,. but what we do when (we lie awake, is harmful (says a writer on this subject in the ‘British Medical Journal’). Sleep is almost perfect rest; but persons .whoso normal life is.restful may rest also during a wakeful night. Ho who is worried, fretful, or under mental tension by day, and needs the refuge offered by sleep from such conditions, may suffer serious injury from the lack of it. Bays tho writer:

“ la common with all vital reactions sleep still remains a mystery, but this does not deter us.l'rom seeking to discover the conditions which iavour its occurrence and those which lead to its disturbance. Jn the contrasting states of sleeping and waking we observe one striking instance of the rhythm which characterises all the unconscious biological processes, -and since this sleepwaking cycle, whose integrity is essential to the well-bciiig of the individual, is so liable to disturbance under the conditions of modern life, the stud}' of sleep and its disorders has become one of considerable iraportanep.,,

“Insomnia is the most common disorder of sleep, and the question arises whether sleeplessness in itself has or has not baneful effects. .Experiments demonstrate that the physical and mental changes following voluntarily induced insomnia are not serious. We are inclined to think, however, that such experiments have only a remote bearing upon the problem of insomnia in the nervous subject. Sleeplessness in an individual who wishes to sleep, but cannot do so when he tries, is probably more harmful 'than .sleeplessness, in one who is able to sleep, Hut does not wish to do so. In. the latter case the subject is tranquil and interested; in the former he is beset with fears and preoccupied with gloomy thoughts. Dr R. D. Gillespie expresses the opinion, that'the influence of insomnia in the production of mental disorders has been much exaggerated, hut it can at least aggravate jin .existing neurosis. In sleep the restorative processes of the 'organism are in fnll*oi>eratk)ii. m>Tim■ form' of our mental activity alters, ft is not that the environment ceases to influence the ssychic life. Sensory stimuli exert a constant influence upon the dream content; but such impressions have no -significance as situation and'events, as in waking life. Sleep is,- above all, the resting time of consciousness; it affords a release of tension and-permits effortless dream fantasies, ’ unhampered by the ’ cramping influence of external reality. Dr Golla has pointed out that the effects of stimuli on the organism favour the philosophic view that pain rather than pleasure is the fundamental fact of life. 'Hie response to a harmful stininnlns, associated with displeasurablo feeling, is an increase of- organic activity, whereas the reaction to a benign stimulus, associated with pleasurable feeling, • is one of diminished activity Pain is thus the conscious symbol of organic activity, while pleasure is the symbol of organic relief. We feel that the view hero presented is of fundamental importance. ■ There are in our modern civilisation many sensitive, highly-organised, and conscientious individuals who are constantly faced with domestic, professional. or financial difficulties, often incapable of permanent .solution. Life in such cases involves a chronic state of inner tension, with but short periods of relief and psychic relaxation. Sloop in persons .so constituted is essential for their well-being, for in sleep we have the completest form of rest. Should insomnia supervene, there is some likelihood of a nervous breakdown. Sleeplessness of this kind involves excessive organic activity, hyperfunction of the sympathetic nervous system, and , a lessened capacity to face the problems of the coming day. ’ “ Dr Gillespie finds it convenient to classify sleeplessness according to whether it is due to physical disease, external irritation, or psychic disorders. It is the insomnia associated' with, the milder forms of mental disturbance which presents the greatest-.difficulties in treatment, in some cases simple psychotherapeutic procedures, combined with physical therapy, will’ suffice to dissipate an anxiety state, and to restore the sleep-waking cycle to the normal. In others prolonged treatment is necessary to bring about a readjustment. There are many cases in which drugs, wisely prescribed, may not only he curative by’ providing the rest which is sorely needed, hut they may also bo instrumental, according to Sir Maurice Craig, in sometimes everting a serious mental breakdown.’’