New trend: ‘Sleep divorce’

//

Lerato Khumalo

Quality sleep is one of the most basic needs in human life and has a significant impact on productivity. While sleeping together is a sign of closeness and affection for some couples, bed sharing can often lead to insomnia problems. Clinical Psychologist Sinem Özdener says, “Getting enough and quality sleep affects both mental and physical performance,” and lists the following warnings: “However, some life conditions may prevent a healthy sleep pattern. Couples; It may be difficult to find a middle ground due to problems such as snoring, not being able to share the duvet, and one side turning over in their sleep. “The increasing trend of sleeping in separate beds, called ‘sleep divorce’, can have negative effects on marriage.”

“The psychological effects of insomnia can strain the individual emotionally and push him to act more impulsively. These and similar moods may push the individual into conflict with his/her partner. In this case, whether couples sleeping in separate beds negatively affects the relationship varies from relationship to relationship. “It is necessary for couples to feel healthy individually and to maintain a healthy relationship.”

MAKES YOU FEEL SAFE

Emphasizing that sleeping together is a sign of closeness and affection for some couples, Clinical Psychologist Özdener said, “Some studies have shown that sleeping together makes couples emotionally relaxed and they feel safer. Therefore, it is important how the decision to sleep separately is reached and that it is a joint decision. “If one of the parties wants to sleep separately and the other does not, this may cause conflict in the relationship,” he said.

COMMON EVALUATION

Clinical Psychologist advises couples who have sleep problems due to bed sharing to communicate effectively to find a common solution. Özdener said, “Couples understand each other and make bed separation a common solution through empathy of thoughts and feelings, allowing a decision to be made by consensus. While this solution may be good for some couples, it may not be good for some couples. For this reason, it is useful to try this method for a few days and evaluate how it feels.” “At the same time, it may be beneficial to take care to maintain closeness in the relationship outside of sleep and try to spend time together before sleep or during the day,” he said.

(email protected)