Non-stop lifestyle catches up with Diddy, now tortured by insomnia at 40

Sleep can elude even those who appear to have it all. Rapper Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs rules over a hip-hop empire valued in the hundreds of millions, throws lavish parties and has an entourage of dozens of people including his own personal barber.

The one thing missing from Diddy’s life is sleep.

"I was proud of working 18 hours a day and sleeping three hours a night," he told ABC’s “Nightline” Thursday. "It's something now that has turned into a problem for me: not being able to sleep.”

Diddy, now 40, once flaunted working like a “machine,” using the hours reserved for sleep to gain an edge on the competition.

He expected the same from his staff. His rule was “Sleep is forbidden.”

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“My mind is always racing, and always going and always working, and it's a gift and a curse,” Diddy told Nightline. “When I was starting out it was something I embraced, and now it’s something that I hate, it tortures – it will torture you.”

He said he's tried everything in his fight with insomnia. He takes sleeping pills, but avoids regular use. He's also tried herbal options, like tea and lavender.

Diddy’s problems appear to be related to his lifestyle. People in isolated, demanding positions like record label executive are highly likely to develop insomnia. Racing thoughts in bed are a common complaint in these cases.

An inconsistent sleep schedule due to late night partying and jet setting also may be the culprit. Drinking alcohol during his many late-night parties may also harm his sleep quality.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is recommended for primary insomnia cases similar to Diddy’s. A sleep specialist would work with him to eliminate the negative racing thoughts that are keeping him awake, and help identify other insomnia promoters.

Learn more about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy at Sleepeducation.com.

Celebrities Were Sleepless in 2009

Michael Jackson’s struggle with insomnia made headlines in 2009. But he wasn’t the only celebrity to wrestle with sleepless nights.

Miley Cyrus told fans about her sleep problems on her Twitter page. “I have just diagnosed myself. I am an insomniac,” wrote the teen star of Hannah Montana. “I hate when I can’t sleep.”

Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz battled insomnia as he struggled to find his swing in 2009. He finished the season with a disappointing .238 batting average and a career-high 134 strikeouts.

"My body is resting every night, but my mind is spinning," he said. "It's hard to sleep.”

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was another athlete looking for sleep. He’s been doing fine on the field with more than 4,000 yards and 28 touchdown passes. But it’s his newborn baby boy who’s been keeping him awake at night.

"I'm trying to get back to my normal sleep schedule, which I'm sure, for all of us parents, is a little tough early," he said.

Jessica Simpson had trouble sleeping while shooting a reality TV show in Uganda. Huge spiders and anti-malaria pills were to blame.

"There were spiders the size of, like, double my hand,” she said. “I couldn’t sleep. We’ve all been trying to get off our malaria pills and we feel crazy! They just make you have crazy dreams.”

But one celebrity who seemed to sleep well was actress Helen Mirren. The 64-year-old Academy Award winner said that she relies on sleep to keep her going.

"I sleep. When I'm working really hard, I don't party. I don't go to the bar after work. I don't go out to restaurants. I just go to bed,” she said. “If I'm on a film, I even try to catch some sleep in my trailer at lunchtime. I really try to sleep as much as possible. It's very important and, as you get older, it becomes more so."

Did you sleep like a celebrity in 2009? Maybe you need to contact an AASM-accredited sleep disorders center in the new year.

Or maybe you simply need to make it a priority to get seven to eight hours of sleep each night. The CBS Early Show reports that this is one of the most important health-related resolutions you can make for 2010.

"It is one of the most neglected aspects of our health in terms of preventative health," said CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton.

Read more about insomnia. On SleepEducation.com you can learn why you should make a resolution to “sleep for seven” in 2010. Check out the seven signs you need sleep.

Image courtesy of jessicasimpson.com

Regis Philbin’s Sleep Study Results: It’s Sleep Apnea

Who wants to feel like a millionaire? Talk show and game show host Regis Philbin says that he does.

The Emmy Award-winning TV personality can’t get a good night’s sleep. Regis said that he wakes up multiple times during the night.

And after waking up it can be a struggle to get back to sleep. As a result he rarely feels his best during the day.

For years he’s been complaining about his sleep problems on “Live with Regis and Kelly.” And his wife Joy has her own sleep problem: His snoring keeps her awake at night.

But now Regis knows what’s causing his disturbed sleep. He spent the night at a sleep disorders center in New York. His experience was documented on Thursday’s show.



Results of his overnight sleep study show that he has obstructive sleep apnea. This common sleep disorder occurs when the muscles relax during sleep. As a result soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses and blocks the upper airway.

Breathing pauses can last from 10 seconds to a minute or longer. A person with severe sleep apnea may have hundreds of breathing pauses per night.

So what is going to help Regis sleep better? On the show he took a look at a CPAP unit and mask. CPAP therapy is the most common treatment for OSA.

The small unit plugs into the wall and sends air through a long, flexible tube. The tube connects to a mask that you wear during sleep. The stream of air keeps the airway open, preventing breathing pauses.

On SleepEducation.com you can learn more about how a sleep study may be your best investment for long-term health. You also can answer these questions to learn more about your risk for sleep apnea.

Get help for sleep apnea at an AASM-accredited sleep center near you.

Michael Jackson’s Struggle with Insomnia

The Associated Press reports today that Michael Jackson struggled with severe and chronic insomnia. A nurse told the AP that he wanted to obtain the drug propofol - also known as Diprivan - to help him sleep.

Diprivan is a powerful sedative that is injected into a vein. It is given to patients before an operation or medical test.



Jackson’s insomnia may have had a variety of causes.

The AP reports that the 50-year-old singer was rehearsing hard for his upcoming “This Is It” tour. This may have caused adjustment insomnia. This type of insomnia results from a source of stress.

His concern about being unable to sleep may have developed into psychophysiological insomnia. People with this sleep disorder worry too much about insomnia and about being tired the next day. As a result, they learn to become tense and anxious as bedtime approaches.

The AP article notes that Jackson would sleep with a computer on the bed. This is a sign that he may have developed bad habits that prevented him from sleeping well. This is called inadequate sleep hygiene.

The AP also reports that Jackson often was in pain. Painful medical problems often cause insomnia due to medical condition.

Jackson may have been taking a variety of prescription medications. Many medications can suppress or disrupt sleep. Insomnia due to drug or substance may result.

His insomnia also may have been related to a mental health problem. The AASM reports that insomnia due to mental disorder is the most common disorder in people who seek help from a sleep center for ongoing insomnia. Often it is related to depression or anxiety.

Do you struggle with insomnia? You can get help at an AASM-accredited sleep center near you.

Update - July 28, 2009: The AP reported today that authorities believe the drug propofol caused Jackson's heart to stop.

Update - Aug. 6, 2009: The Wall Street Journal reports that the abuse of propofol is a growing problem among medical professionals.

Update - Aug. 29, 2009: The AP reports that the Los Angeles County coroner's office determined the cause of death was "acute propofol intoxication."

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Michael Jackson’s Death & Prescription Drug Abuse

Soon after Michael Jackson’s death questions arose about his possible abuse of prescription drugs. Five days later those questions remain. Investigators recently took more medications from the rented house where Jackson collapsed.

The controversy has focused attention on the nationwide problem of prescription drug abuse. The risk of addiction extends far beyond the rich and famous.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that millions of people in the U.S. abuse prescription drugs each year. The NIDA estimates that 48 million people have abused or misused prescription drugs in their lifetime.

Which drugs are most likely to be abused? The NIDA warns that three classes of drugs carry the greatest risk.

Opioids are commonly abused. These drugs are used to treat pain. Examples include morphine, codeine, OxyContin, Vicodin and Demerol.

Stimulants also may be abused. These drugs are used for problems such as narcolepsy. Examples include dextroamphetamine and methylphenidate.

Central nervous system depressants also are commonly abused. This class of drugs includes barbiturates such as Nembutal. It also includes benzodiazepines such as Valium and Xanax.

Some benzodiazepines are used to treat insomnia. Examples include Dalmane, Doral, Halcion, Prosom and Restoril.

But newer “nonbenzodiazepines” have a lower risk of addiction. Examples include Ambien, Lunesta and Sonata.

Another low-risk sleep aid is ramelteon. It is marketed as Rozerem. This drug is a melatonin receptor agonist. It targets the part of the brain that regulates the sleep-wake cycle.

The AASM offers these Guidelines for Taking Sleep Medications. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any other questions about taking sleeping pills. You also should ask your doctor about cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. It is a safe and effective treatment option.

The NIDA reports that drug addiction is a brain disease that can be treated effectively. Treatments include detoxification, counseling and drug therapy.

To get help call 1-800-662-HELP or go online to http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/.

Learn more about prescription drug abuse on SleepEducation.com.

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