To a Flame
To a Flame "And are your nightmares affecting your sleep?" the psychiatrist asks and I nod, yes, and say that if he had the same dreams, he'd avoid sleeping, too. Dr. A raises his eyebrows as though I've said something profound and tells me to try breathing exercises again. He's a gaunt man, almost to the point of emaciation, and his narrow shoulders are sharp beneath the button down that drapes his body. As he opens his mouth to speak, his skin draws against his angular face. "You're a science guy, so I know you'll appreciate this. It's a recent study. Five minutes of relaxed breathing before bed led to a twenty-five percent increase in REM sleep," he says with a small, sly smile, like he's letting me into his confidence. In reply, I ask again if there's some medication that I can take for the dreams or anxiety. "No, Alex, it's important to treat the disease, not mask the symptoms. Claustrophobia is something called a...