Tidbits from our sleep Q&A meeting last week...
I have come to appreciate that sometimes people want a peek inside of what is happening while they are contemplating the idea of seeking to change sleep. The group members who are piloting our online program had some great questions/comments this week! See the highlights below:
-Navigating the time change. One member was surprised to discover that there was some remaining anxiety about ability to fall asleep, despite having sleep well for a while now and through a variety of circumstances. The first night with the time change set off the anxiety and uncertainty. However, this member worked from her existing knowledge to keep herself on track with her wake-up time. The second night, she had mild difficulty but again remembered to stick with what is recommended according to sleep physiology facts. By the third night, her circadian rhythm shifted (because of her knowledge of sleep physiology and associated choices), and sleep returned to easily falling asleep and getting restorative sleep during the night. She now feels even more confident in her ability to navigate sleep challenges.
-The importance of "grit." In the process of changing sleep, members have heard me emphasize the necessity of having grit. Members noted that they really learned to use their grit and that this left them with a feeling of having "earned" the good sleep that they are getting now. A feeling of empowerment was also identified, as they found that grit + knowledge to solve sleep problems = strength and efficacy in navigating sleep challenges as they arise.
-How to deal with thoughts about loss, grief, and tough news without it interfering with sleep. One member mentioned that losses and changes in relationships were at the forefront of her thoughts, even when she wants to sleep. We took time to acknowledge that there are so many areas where our thoughts can go and that they can interfere with sleep. We reviewed some strategies that related to what they have already been practicing for worry control, as well as just appreciated that it is a task in itself to accept life's changes as they happen.
-Sleeping in complete dark. Oops! I meant to bring this topic up from the April newsletter, but I actually totally forgot! We were having such a good time with other topics. At any rate, the gist of what I wanted to say from that article is that it is important to understand how the body's physiology works, and while you don't have to know all of the current research, knowing a little bit about light and how to use it to maximize your restful sleep is important and I do integrate that into the courses.
Wish to look at our online sleep programming? Remember that it's a work in progress and open to pilot participants only at this stage, but feel free to visit if you are just curious.