jkr@gitpyr.UUCP (J. Kenneth Riviere) (01/30/86)
I have just read an article in the Winter, 1986 issue of _Mothering_
magazine (published by Mothering Publications, Inc., PO Box 8410,
Santa Fe, NM 87504 (505-984-8116)) written by Jacqueline McDonald
(editor of Feingold newsletter, mother of 2, living on Minot Air Force
Base, ND) concerning people who suffer from bedwetting (enuresis) and
hyperactivity/learning disabilities (H-LD). The basic point of the
article was that there appears to be a strong connection between these
problems and sleep disorders, specifically a lack of sufficient REM
cycles in the sleep pattern. A strong correlation has been found
between bedwetters and people (even adults) who have unusually deep
sleep patterns. These people typically fall quickly into very deep
sleep and then "surface" into the essential REM cycle of sleep for
only very brief periods of time. During the very deep sleep it is
especially difficult for individuals to control their bladders due to
the fact they are sleeping so very soundly. Beyond that, the lack of
REM sleep also seems to lead to the H-LD problems and perhaps some
other difficulties. The article reports that some people have been
cured of enuresis and/or H-LD through the establishment of more
standard sleep cycles in which more time is spent in the REM stage
than had previously been the case. The treatment involved a lie-
detector type device which was used to monitor the sleep patterns of
the patients so that their sleep cycle could be observed and steps
taken to correct the abnormalities. On "average" the cases studied
took "several weeks to several months for complete correction, though
a rare and difficult case would last longer than a year." Suggestions
for improved sleep patterns include:
o Superior Nutrition
o Generous between-meal water intake (6 to 10 glasses a day)
o Reasonable regularity in bedtimes, naptimes, even mealtimes
o Abundant outdoor exercise
o Low-stress lifestyle
Pacific International, Ltd., 555 Birch Street, Nekoosa, WI 54457
was cited as an organization that has established itself as having an
effective treatment record for over 33 years.
The things this article pointed out fit in with the experiences of
some friends of ours who have a bedwetting daughter. She is a very
deep sleeper as characterized by the article. After a series of
nights in which she had wet the bed each night she awoke dry one
morning and was able to tell of a dream she remembered, an unusual
rememberance for her. Since the REM sleep cycles are when people's
active and memorable dreams occur, this seems to fit the pattern. Our
friends have written for further information. If there is sufficient
interest (and I can find the time) I will try to report on any further
developments.
--
J. Kenneth Riviere (JoKeR)
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332
...!{akgua,allegra,amd,hplabs,ihnp4,seismo,ut-ngp}!gatech!gitpyr!jkr
"I'd rather be conservative than bigoted,
but I'd rather be *dead* than conservative!"
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