Stop Your Sleep Divorce

Is your snoring, tossing, and turning driving your partner crazy? If so, you might be headed for a “sleep divorce”—an arrangement in which a couple sleeps in separate bedrooms. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine conducted a study recently which found that about a third of American couples sleep separately, often because of one partner’s annoying sleep behavior. Let’s take a look at some of the causes of sleep divorces, as well as what you can do to facilitate a sleep reunion.

Snoring

Snoring is one of the most common reasons couples end up sleeping in separate rooms. When one partner snores loudly throughout the night, the other often struggles to fall asleep or wakes up repeatedly. This chronic sleep disruption can lead to resentment, exhaustion, and the decision to sleep apart for the sake of rest. Snoring is often linked to sleep apnea, nasal congestion, or lifestyle factors like alcohol consumption. Regardless of the cause, the impact on a partner’s sleep can be severe.

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) is a neurological condition that causes an uncontrollable urge to move the legs, especially at night. This constant movement can make it difficult for a partner to fall asleep or stay asleep, as their rest is frequently interrupted by kicking, twitching, or shifting. Over time, the sleep-deprived partner may feel they have no choice but to relocate to another room to get a full night’s rest.

Sleepwalking

Sleepwalking may seem like a harmless quirk, but for couples sharing a bed, it can be a major disturbance. People who sleepwalk may sit up, talk, walk around the house, or even engage in more complex activities—all the time completely unaware of their actions. This can be alarming for a partner, especially if the sleepwalker accidentally bumps into things, leaves the room, or exhibits unusual behavior. The unpredictability of sleepwalking can lead to frustration, safety concerns, and, ultimately, separate sleeping arrangements.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts throughout the night. It often leads to loud snoring, choking or gasping for air, and frequent awakenings—all of which can be incredibly disruptive for a bed partner. Beyond the noise, a partner may also worry about the health risks of untreated sleep apnea, such as high blood pressure and heart disease. Many couples try to work around the issue, but when continuous sleep deprivation takes its toll, a “sleep divorce” becomes a tempting solution.

Get Treatment and Stop Your Sleep Divorce

Sleep apnea can lead to a bed divorce even if it’s being treated, as CPAP machines aren’t exactly unobtrusive. Fortunately, there’s an alternative to these large, cumbersome, and potentially annoying machines. Silent Night Therapy of Babylon Dental Care offers an unobtrusive Oral Sleep Appliance that helps people with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (both diagnosed and undiagnosed) get a full night’s sleep. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation and find out if this could be the solution you and your partner have been hoping for!