Yvonnie Bailey- Davidson

Dear Counsellor:

I read your articles weekly and find them to be helpful and informative. I hope you can help me. I am suffering from lack of sleep and this is interfering with my functioning and productivity. I have difficulty falling asleep and I awake many times in the night.

-Annette

Dear Annette:

I am glad that you are reading my articles and find them helpful. Sleep is an essential function as we need to rest our bodies and refresh ourselves for another day. There are many causes of sleep problems. Some people have a primary sleep disorder. This mean that the person is unable to sleep and this is not caused by the environment or medical illness. Sometimes our activities interfere with our sleep cycle and we need to make changes. Your bedroom must be decorated to facilitate sleep. Some people feel that they should download the day's stresses and plan for the next day before they go to sleep. It is helpful to drink a glass of milk before bedtime and only go into your bed when you are ready to sleep.

Some medical problems are associated with lack of sleep. You therefore need a complete medical check-up to identify the factors that are contributing to your insomnia. Treating the medical problem will cause your sleep to improve.

Sometimes depression and anxiety can interfere with an individual's sleep pattern. The stressors in your life need to be identified and dealt with. Counselling can improve a person's sleep pattern. The counsellor will help you to look at your priorities and stress factors and devise a method to cope. Worry interferes with sleep and sometimes we become a perfectionist and want to attend to all the details.

It is helpful to keep a sleep journal to document your daily sleep pattern. This will help you to keep a check on yourself and see how the stressors are affecting you. Some stressors we can leave alone whereas with others you have to face head-on. Sleep is important and you should seek help early.

Dr. Yvonnie Bailey-Davidson; 791-1778, 978-8602; yvonniebd@hotmail.com.

MARRIAGE STRESSORS

Dear Counsellor:

I am married and having financial stress. We are finding it difficult to cope as we would like to buy our first house. I think we need accounting and management skills.

-Evadney

Dear Evadney,

Marriage has to be viewed in some respect as a business arrangement .Problems with the financial aspect of the relationship can undermine the other areas. It is good to plan together as to how the finances are dealt with. There are the issues of income and expenditure. Income is important as it determines one's spending power. Both partners need to be earning a decent income to be able to pay the bills. Sometimes the partners need to upgrade their skills and qualifications to get better paying jobs. Hobbies can be income earners.

The expenditure side of things can be very challenging. You need to save a portion of the income for investment and future expenses. Make a list of your expenditures and decide what is priority. One needs to be as frugal as possible so that a portion of the income is saved. You need to set goals and targets and periodically reassess the situation. Cost saving measures should be instituted. Cost recovery is important as you want to feel that your money is well spent.

Each month you should assess the finances and determine progress and success. In making your budget you should bear in mind your priorities and goals. Money is easily spent and so you need to pay particular attention to the expenditures. It would be helpful to speak with you banker about your financial goals.