Thunder Bow, it's an honor to speak with a Native American Shaman. Short story; I've been on SSDI since June, 2011. My wife and I have always had a difficult marriage. She was verbally abusive for 20 years, little empathy for my illness and emotionally manipulative. Since I can no longer hold a job, I'm dependent upon her for a roof over my head. She needs to be in control and it's still a flash point for us but I call her out when the situation warrants. We've been through couples therapy and individual therapy. Perhaps the disturbed sleep is a manifestation of internal emotional turmoil. Stress, too, plays a role in damaging the endocrine system and the brain.

If I tell her I'm planning on going away for few weeks to visit relatives in Florida, she becomes needy and nervous about me being gone. I know her family history, so I understand where her intense insecurity and anxiety come from but at 70 years old, she still refuses to examine her life.