“I love sleep. My life has the tendency to fall apart when I am awake you know?
Ernest Hemingway
Life can feel as though it is falling apart when you are bereaved so this quote by Hemingway is a reminder of the importance of trying to get a good night’s sleep.
Sleep and bereavement are connected as people often say that a dying person has fallen asleep as a euphanism for death. This is because sleeping is linked with peacefulness and contentment, but it can be very confusing when speaking to children, as it might cause them to become frightened of going to sleep, in case they might die.
We are frequently advised not to look at too much digital content before sleeping, but many of us do not heed that advice, especially with the rise of digital sleep monitoring apps on watches and phones.
Hypnophobia is the name for the fear of falling asleep. This type of anxiety can develop after a traumatic event, such as sudden bereavement.
Sleep is vitally important for our bodies and minds to rest. Switching off digital devices that could disturb this rest is a good tip, but if you are having difficulties sleeping then below we have a link to some tips about sleep and bereavement that might be helpful.