PART 3 – SLEEP & REST!

By William for wheezingaway.com

(ALWAYS REMEMBER – A person without good breathing, is a person with a life of constant caution’, so let us do what we can, to learn what we can, to improve what we can. – William)

As I continue my own walk-through life with a chronic illness, I continue working with the belief that those who have a constant battle with any chronic illness should always be on the mindset that educating themselves will never end!

I continue to believe – deeply – that our education never ends. The more we learn, the more prepared we are to face the unpredictable challenges that any chronic illness and/or disability will bring.

            My own battle includes severe asthma, Stage III COPD, chronic fatigue, and heart condition. Each of these requires its own kind of knowledge, awareness, and discipline. When I write these reflections, I do so with the hope that what I have or will continue to learn may help someone else navigate their own journey.

            This six-part series about Gaining Stability with a Chronic Illness and/or disability focuses on the simple but powerful habits that will help bring steadiness to a life that can change rapidly. Today we continue with one of the essential pillars of building stability: SLEEP and REST!!

GAINING STABILITY WITH A CHRONIC ILLNESS – ‘SLEEP & REST.’

            WHY DOES SLEEP MATTER SO MUCH?

            A good question indeed and while sleep disorders can happen to anyone, they are especially common among people with any chronic illness and/or disability, particularly with respiratory conditions such as COPD and asthma.

            When your breathing is compromised, odds are your sleep will be as well!!

            If you struggle with ongoing sleep issues, it is important not to ignore them. While a sleep study may feel very inconvenient or uncomfortable plus cumbersome with all the wire they attach to you, it can be life changing as it goes a long way toward helping solve one’s sleeping issue.

            In my case, it was lifesaving. My sleep study revealed that my heart rate was dropping to as low as twenty-eight beats per minute during sleep. Combined with a diagnosis of sleep apnea, the study led to receiving a pacemaker and the beginning of CPAP therapy. Those two interventions dramatically improved my nights and my days.

            If your sleep study shows you have sleep apnea, take the recommendation seriously. A CPAP machine may feel awkward at first, but the benefits longer term can be tremendous. Better sleep means better alertness, better energy, and better abilities to manage your chronic illness and/or disability.

            REMEMER – Your health is important. Sleep is not optional – it is foundational!!

REST IS NOT LAZINESS – IT IS SURVIVAL!!

Beyond sleeping, most of us that fight those daily battles with a chronic illness and/or disability, can and will have times during the day hours when fatigue and/or exhaustion may creep in. It is okay as it is part of the results of those daily battles and the important thing is to stop and make a point of taking care of that fatigue and/or exhaustion. It is not weakness – it is part of those daily battles.

When your body may signal it is feeling fatigue, it may sound like whispers though it is yelling for rest. The most responsible thing one can do is listen.

            A short nap may be enough on some days when other days your body may require a longer period of rest. Even if you do not fully fall asleep, many times just simply lying down, relaxing, and letting your body reset – can make a meaningful difference.

            There is no shame in resting, in fact it is an act of strength and self-preservation and those closest to you should understand that your rest helps prolong your ability to enjoy life with them.

            SLEEP and REST will always be one of the most principal factors in building your individual stability while combating our own daily battle with any chronic illness and/or disability.

A REFLECTION with QUESTIONS:

            Do you sleep well enough, and if not do you work at making it so?

            When you get tired and/or exhausted, do you willingly take the time to relax and rest?

If you would like to reflect on these questions, feel free to comment on the post or email me at wheezingaway@gmail.com.

As always, we stress that if you have a chronic illness and/or disability, you must always stay attuned and alert to all knowledge, whether old or new, as it will offer glimpses of hope and faith in getting through one’s own battles.

Because I fight COPD – if you or someone you know has persistent breathing issues that disrupt a daily life, please talk with a physician or pulmonologist. Early questions can lead to early answers.

With that – I send you smiles, prayers, blessings, and steady breathing. GOOD DAY!!

NOTES: Sometimes we share what may seem like medical information, but we are only giving descriptions and highlights of various aspects of living with a chronic illness and/or disease, and in no way do we ever want our information to be considered medical advice. If you have questions about what we have posted, then ask your physician and/or medical specialist about it.

 (Copyright@2026, CrossDove Writer through wheezingaway.com – no part of this write may be used or copied without written permission.)