Sleep plays a major role in our lives, and it is crucial to get a healthy good night’s rest. However, it might prove challenging for couples, especially when one of the partners presents a sleeping problem. Bad sleep can negatively affect the partners’ well-being and might eventually upset the balance in the relationship.
There are several sleeping problems and disorders that may affect couples, including sleep apnea, insomnia, restless feet, and less frequently sleepwalking, narcolepsy (involuntarily falling asleep) or sleep talking.
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder where your breath pauses due to muscles relaxing and narrowing or blocking the airpath, causing snoring, choking or gasping sounds and also sleepiness during the day, headaches or mood swings. However, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, so it is advisable to seek a professional and have it checked out.
If sleep apnea or any other sleep disorder is becoming a problem, it is important address it with your partner, discussing the matter openly. However, before choosing to sleep separately, you should reach out to a specialist and receive professional advice and treatment for sleep apnea, as not only does it affect your relationship, but also your (partner’s) health and quality of life.
Anitha Tata is a Clinical Psychology graduate student from Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania and is currently doing an internship at Willingness. She enjoys exploring new ideas through self-learning and strives to enrich her professional experience by seizing opportunities to work in a multicultural context.
Photo credits: Club Med UK, www.clubmed.co.uk