Cultivating the Superpower of Sleep
As the parent of a toddler, I know all too well the importance of sleep, as well as what it feels like to be chronically sleep deprived. It can taxing on the physical, mental & emotional bodies. I often wonder if the term, “mom brain,” is actually just a downstream effect of inadequate & interrupted sleep. I also understand just how hard it can be to get a regular, good night’s sleep. Even if you wanted to, it can be tough, and at times, feel downright impossible. There can be many different obstacles at play here. It is not always easy. I can understand & empathize with the struggles of not getting a good night’s sleep.
As a naturopathic doctor, I understand the health implications of not getting enough sleep. It is a foundation of health, just like diet & exercise. Not getting enough sleep can affect so many areas of our lives - cardiovascular health, immune function, nervous system health, stress response, reproduction, creating & retaining memories, impacting self regulation, mental health, & mortality. For further enlightenment, I invite you to check out TED talk, “Sleep is your superpower” by sleep scientist, Matt Walker.
After hearing the facts that he (Matt Walker) shares, I strongly believe we need to get rid of daylight savings time! He also gives some advice on improving quality of sleep.
Sleep deprivation can make one feel completely crazy! The military use sleep deprivation as a form of torture. Think about it… a kind of torture. I doubt any of you out there are intentionally torturing yourself. Perhaps some of you just don’t know better, just how important sleep is, nor respect the importance of regular sleep. And, that is okay. We are all just figuring it out, in our own time. As the late Maya Angelou put it, “When you know better, you do better.” And, once you do know better, it is about reframing what self care looks like, and what needs to be priority in your life. And, some of us, do know better, and yet, it can be a challenge to actually make it happen… That is where we need to invite in compassion, creativity, & accountability. It may require you to reach out to ask for help, especially if there is something getting in the way of your sleep.
There are many underlying causes to insomnia and inadequate sleep, as well as many ways to improve quality, quantity & regularity of sleep. Naturopathic medicine has a unique medical perspective as well as a vast "tool box" that can help people in many scenarios. As a naturopathic doctor, I take on a holistic approach, assessing the physical, mental & emotional bodies of the people I work with. Often, insomnia is actually a symptom of a deeper health issue that must be discovered. And this is what we do (my patients & I), digging & excavating, as a part of the journey. I educate & include my patients on their healing journeys, exploring their bodies & health, keeping them informed & empowered in the process. I am a guide in that way. And, whether the guidance is in the sleep realm, or some other health realm, we walk this journey together.
May you sleep well,
Dr. Sarah Sue