As a lifelong insomniac I had very high hopes for The Harvard Medical School Guide To A Good Night’s Sleep, although the fact that I stayed up all night reading it on a night I never could manage to get to sleep is ironic. Dr. Lawrence J. Epstein, a sleep medicine specialist has penned a comprehensive book that includes a detailed explanation of all of the many stages and processes one goes through when sleeping, and for anyone seeking to better understand just what it means “to sleep”, the book is worth it for that alone.
Dr. Epstein also discusses a whole range of sleep-related problems and discusses strategies for better sleep you can try on your own and home and makes clear what types of sleep problems really should be referred to a specialist. I learned from this book that my particular problem is called “delayed onset insomnia”. Knowing this technical term is of little comfort on those nights I lie there and toss and turn and simply can not turn off my mind and go to sleep. At times I almost found myself wishing that I had one of the more exotic problems that can only be diagnosed in the sleep lab, since there seem to be much more specific and effective treatments.
For my problem, Epstein’s advice contained nothing I had not already heard as folk wisdom from many sources and tried as much as possible to incorporate into my life– not using the bed for reading or other activities, getting up when unable to fall asleep after half an hour or so and waiting until tired to try again. He did present a detailed discussion of various pharmaceutical approaches to treating insomnia but seems strongly opposed to the long term use of pills to treat sleeplessness. Which is a bit frustrating to me. The pills Don’t always work for me but when they do work they are the Only things that ever work and I really have tried most of his other suggestions.
I do recommend this book as an informative book for anyone who would like to know and understand more about the fascinating topic of sleep. But caution my fellow insomniacs that there are no magic bullets in this doctor’s bag.
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November 13th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
Hi,
This seems like a useful book and I appreciate you showing it here. Unfortunately, I too have a sleep disorder, but it is of the more common variety of night time maladies. I have sleep apnea. A simple, yet expensive oral appliance worn every night has saved me from a divorce from my wife (I snore…loudly) and from a future with cardio-pulmonary disease. I wish I had some useful advice for you on your insomnia, but I am sorry I do not. I will try to get this book, from the library, of course. Thank you. -Mike
November 13th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
I have a miracle cure, which I will share for free. Run after hyperactive toddlers for a couple of weeks. You’ll be able to sleep anytime and anywhere. Hey, it worked for me.