Michael Jackson's Sleep Problems: What Can We Learn?

Amidst all the fuss and turmoil over Michael Jackson's untimely death, we have seen his life picked apart by many, covering everything from unhappy childhood to rock star status to problems with drugs. Now we learn that just trying to sleep may be what killed him.

We have learned that Michael had such trouble sleeping that he wound up resorting to propofol, an anesthesia product used in surgery. There have been many articles on this subject, including this recent item in the Huffington Post.

Imagine that. Cause of death? Sleep issues.

Now that's just staggering.

Sleep! Sleep? Yes, sleep.

So far, not many people seem to have noticed the connection between sleep issues and stress.
You may have heard that the Huffington Post is pro-sleep. And with good reason. Have you noticed how many people are looking as though a truck ran over them? We don't just mean politicians and people who travel for a living - how about our neighbors, co-workers or even family members.

Remember the pictures of Larry Summers falling asleep during the credit card industry meeting? This one picture epitomizes the dilemma so many of us seem to be facing. We can be so concerned about dealing with pressing issues that we don't take care of ourselves through something as simple and natural as sleep, and then wind up running at a much less effective rate when we most need to be on top of our game. Which then means we will have even more to do when we come back.

A March 30th LA Times article by Denise Gellene quotes Dr. Gregg D. Jacobs, an insomnia specialist at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester as saying: "The first stress symptom people experience is insomnia. The size of the sleeping pill market can only go up because of the economy and stress."

According to research firm IMS Health, prescriptions for sleeping medications reached an all time high of 56 million in 2008, up 54% from 2004.

It seems as though 24/7 not only means the ability to access anything, anytime, anywhere, it also means that if you are going to be seen as worthwhile, you too will run 24/7.

What is it about our culture that something as simple and natural as sleep can be seen as a sign of weakness or lacking real commitment? We have jobs that are so important that we won't let something as silly as sleep interfere. Why does going home "early" translate into a sign of weakness for so many corporations these days? (Early means before 9:00 pm.) How many of us just can't seem to turn off our Blackberries or I-Phones? What if something urgent shows up in our email?

Vacation? Without email? Come on, get serious.

I know firsthand what that can be like. I've taken my share of red-eye flights because that meeting in New York was just so darned important, certainly more important that taking care of me. And I've stayed up until the wee hours to get some "important" project delivered. Heck, a couple of weeks ago, I even got up at 2:30 in the morning because I was concerned about how the Living page was going to look later that morning.
And it's not just that I got up, it's that I couldn't sleep because I was so concerned about something as short lived as a press deadline.

Perhaps it is a sign of how misaligned we have become as a culture that pill popping for what ails us seems so common as to be almost natural. Rather than deal with what's at the root of an issue, increasing numbers of us seem to look for an answer that comes conveniently packaged in a bottle of one sort or another.
That bottle may contain pills, an injectible, or something to drink. Something to drink could range from alcohol to an "energy drink" to a plain old Coke. Perhaps 5-6 a day. And don't forget Red Bull and Gatorade.

The underlying theme is millions looking to find some kind of relief. Relief from what? Perhaps we are seeking relief from what we call life, instead of seeking a real life, something that is sustainable from the inside out, rather than requiring something from the outside in.

For Michael Jackson, the search for relief took the form of a daily cocktail of pills for both depression and anxiety, pain medications, muscle relaxants, anesthetics, and heartburn (due to the combination of other drugs.)

Does this seem natural? Did anyone have to teach us how to sleep, relax, or otherwise take care of ourselves? Maybe we have to (re)learn now, but it didn't start that way.

So how can we find our way back to center, back to a place where we can be naturally fulfilled, naturally rested, in a state of natural peace and relaxation? Is it possible to still be a productive member of society at the same time?

After all, don't we deserve it? And won't our family and friends be appreciative if we can find something that helps, something natural, something so simple and repeatable? Many businesses today are looking for sustainable advantages in their race to be productive. It could be that a very natural advantage is right there, right now, and at virtually no cost whatsoever.

Like sleep.

I'm going to bed now. It's 10:00 pm.

Goodnight.

Comments

[Willow207]

Didn't Heath Ledger have sleep problems too at the time of his death?

Maybe producers in the entertainment industry need to provide services for performers in these type of situations­......prov­iding sleep counsellors who pratice various technuques from relaxation methods to self-hynosis. This may help performers avoid the pitfalls of drug dependency.

From what I have heard and read MJ had dependecy issues for many years which was the beginning of his use and then the "stress" of trials and financial problems added to the dependency. I was also shocked to hear 4 different doctors discuss Michael's lupus, an autoimmune disease. I have lupus and am in great pain often for months at a time and the rigorous schedule Michael Jackson kept would be enough to set off his lupus and create MORE pain in addition to his various injury-caused pain.

How desperately sad, but maybe we can take the lessons away from this loss to help prevent further needless losses.

[rsprags]

Thanks for the article! Great!

[Agentlady007]

Self Hypnosis, I meant. You know when you put your finger on the center of your forehead, close your eyes and say outloud " deep relaxation, deeper and deeper on down. I am going to wake up refreshed and in a good mood, as if I had eight hours of rested sleep." Good luck with this one folks.

[Agentlady007]

Advice: Ask your pharmacist to show you what pills to buy to help you sleep. The one at Walgreens told me and pulled off the counter and handed me, Walgreens brand " Acetaminophen PM".
I did fall asleep fast. Self hynosis is for the birds.

[sexyrexy]

Michael's sleep disorder started early on when he was a kid staying up late doing the clubs when kids hia age should be in bed.

In Moonwalk he talked a lot wanting sleep as a boy. he could barely leave his eyes open in school.

[hark]

I think what we can learn from Michael Jackson's sleep problems is that we have absolutely overdosed on Michael Jackson if we have even heard about them.

[desertdweller]

Solution: Try sleeping the sleep of the innocent for a change....­..

[NoSillyName]

Do you have a point?

[desertdweller]

I recommend the film "The Machinist" starring Christian Bale. It's amazing what effect a guilty conscience can have on your ability to sleep.....

[NorthSide]

The article is correct in that sleep disorders are a big health problem. However, blaming them as the precipitating event in MJ's death is rather disingenuous. What ever his sleep problems might have been, diprovan and many of the other things he was taking are grotesquely inappropriate as therapeutic measures. No doctor in his right mind should be using diprovan outside of the surgical suite or ER. MJ was failed by his doctors, his handlers and entourage. They are the ones who killed him.

[Clem2]

This article does not mention the millions affected by diagnosed sleep disorders. Yes we have all heard about sleep apnea and narcolepsy, but what about those with chronic insomnia? What about those with circadian rhythm disturbances to they cannot even live a normal life? Do a google search for this, or for "non-24", people who have a body clock that is long or irregular.

These people really suffer and there is very little funding for sleep research on these. These people heard the same thing 30 years ago as they hear now.... exercise "good sleep hygiene."

with the death of Heath Ledger, and Michael Jackson, is it possible maybe someone will notice there is a problem here? Sleep problems often lead to anxiety and depression, not the other way round. At least drs. are finally admitting this last bit.

[aspiecelia]

Probably the main reason MJ could not sleep was his use of narcotics. In many people narcotics act as a stimulant and interfere with sleep. As the years went by and his tolerance grew it got worse and worse.

[caligyrl74]

I agree completely - some of the problems Michael suffered from were actually side effects of narcotic use. Many people who become addicted to prescription medications end up with major sleep problems, anxiety and depression and it seems that because it's prescribed they don't look to the obvious culprit - the drugs. So they begin treating the new symptoms with more drugs.

If nothing else I sincerely hope that Michael's death makes us all pause and think about natural remedies rather than just taking whatever pill the doctor throws at us. The rate of addiction with some of these prescription meds is staggering and you can't count on doctors to prescribe them properly or be aware of when a patient becomes addicted.

[MyrtleJune]

You miss the point that his sleep problems were CAUSED by the drugs he was prescribed. XANAX to be exact. It causes an insomnia you cannot imagine. One that goes on for days. One that cannot be avoided because of the physical addiction of xanax. Xanax killed MIchael Jackson. It probably killed Heath ledger as well.

[Ohsherri]

I have learned that when you are really rich and famous...y­ou are surrounded
by "yes-men".­...who will cater to your every apetite for destruction.
When you are someone like M.J.
its hard to grasp what is "normal" anymore.

Every personal weakness and flaw is magnified when you are really rich,
cause then you can afford to feed it....and it grows and grows.

[rsprags]

Thanks for the article; MJJ is not the only one in this country with an issue and not even the first or last entertainer with an issue!

[NoSillyName]

I have the same chronic problem. Three, four hours and wide awake. Same as one of my parents. Temazepam gives only 4 hours. Ambien, not much better and don't like the "knock out" effect. Seroquel in very small doses works much better for me. I only need to take 1/2 of a 25 mg. tab for 2 or 3 nights and then none at all and continue to have good sleep for at least a week.

Insomnia is maddening and, obviously, can have very serious consequences.

I empathize with MJ's problem, but I would never go that far in search of sleep. Is being unconscious really the same as being asleep? I think not; sleep has many functions for the mind and body. Not so sure about being unconscious.

[bar2200]

Hopefully, doctors can learn from this - but I'm not so certain, as many fail to keep abreast of new medical science. Insomnia, in Michael Jackson's case, was more than likely caused from his Lupus condition - for that happens to be one of many symptoms of this condition, and/or the prescribed medications taken for Lupus can cause such side effect. It appears that his doctors failed to assist him with the Insomnia problem. There's many things that could have been done for him - such as a proper nutritional program, such as solid health food, vitamins, exercise, counseling. Doctors do not endorse homepathic­'/holistic medicine, or proper nutrition, they just prescribe harsh medications. I speak from personal knowledge due to my husband's disabled condition. It wasn't until I did massive medical research that I diagnosed him, including helping him to heal as much as possible. At least he is now in a much better frame of mind - no known cure at this time, but he is doing better. His current doctors have approved my choice of nutritional regime and vitamins - now why didn't they tell my husband years ago to truly help heal him? What a crime. Just like what has happened to Michael Jackson...­Others that are not afflicted with known diseases - or take prescribed medications that result in Insomnia, just need to slow down. Rest/Sleep is absolutely vital for proper mental health and well-being.