By UB’s Neurofeedback Practitioner Debbie Vyskocil, BCIA
A good night sleep is underrated. We are an unusual society that sometimes still competes in the office over who has had the least sleep. Recent research points to sleep as the time your brain empties its waste. If you don’t sleep you brain is carrying around toxins it doesn’t need that can further impair its function. What about that is worthy of competition?
Research directly correlates sleep issues to impaired memory, an increased risk of diabetes, impaired cognitive decision making, increased obesity and to increased cardiac risk.
Step one to sleeping better is going to bed at an hour that will allow you to sleep enough. The National Sleep Federation recommends 7-9 hours each night for adults. Are you trying to squeeze in a little more reading or television or maybe work? Do the simple math, if you must get up at 6am and really need 7 hours sleep set your alarm for 10:30 or 10:45 so you can be asleep by 11pm. Time can just get away from us.
At times life events keep us from getting our optimal sleep time. An infant in your care or a full week of taxing work schedules can give us acute insomnia but when it becomes a chronic issue, mental functioning and health issues can ensue. I have always been a huge proponent for sleep. My college years contained very few sleep hours, but as I grew older I noticed the difference in my day and my productivity after a few sleepless nights. I was always a beat off.
With neurofeedback the first change we tend to see is an increase in sleep. Even if clients come in for other reasons, within the first few sessions they are reporting an improvement in their sleep quality. For many the nonstop chatter in their head is what keeps them awake, learning how to take control of your chatter and turn down the volume is key to dozing off.
If you still aren’t convinced that sleep is critical to your health and functioning at your highest level check out one of my favorite videos.