A common advice on self-help, health, and fitness blogs is to sleep on the left side. Of the variety of reasons provided, not many appear logically sound or scientifically accurate. As a result, it is advice usually dismissed as just another irrelevant urban legend. Science, however, has been out verifying the claims. Several studies support the benefits of sleeping on …
Clean up your Slumber: ‘Sleep Hygiene’ Printable tip sheet
Our infographic contains important tips for improving sleep and setting up a healthy sleep routine. This isn’t an exhaustive list, but is a carefully considered selection of changes that can have a large impact. Are there some challenges you could set for yourself from these? Try any change for 2 weeks and then evaluate how much it has helped. The …
Sunday Times: Perth’s problem with sleeplessness
The Sunday Times interviewed Perth sleep experts including Dr Melissa Ree from Sleep Matters for their article on sleep difficulties in today’s paper (page 20-21 and online). The article emphasises that sleep problems are very common in our high stress, high tech world and that this is true across the age span. The good news is that there are effective long term solutions. …
Mindfulness Courses to Calm Your Mind
Mindfulness Courses to Calm Your Mind Perth Mindfulness Centre (www.perthmindfulnesscentre.com.au) is a collaboration between psychologists Dr Mark Craigie and Paul Buttigieg. Mark and Paul are highly experienced mindfulness teachers specialising in teaching mindfulness practices to help people relax, calm their mind, improve concentration, and reduce stress. Learning mindfulness skills may also assist with improving sleep. Please go to Perth Mindfulness …
Australian Guidelines Recommend CBT for treatment of Insomnia
New Australian Guidelines for Insomnia treatment have recently been published in the journal Sleep Medicine. Dr Melissa Ree, Dr David Cunnington and Moira Junge from the Australasian Sleep Association have authored the document which reviews recent clinical evidence and recommends that Cognitive Behaviour Therapy-Insomnia be offered as a first-line treatment for this common and often debilitating sleep disorder. The Australasian Sleep Association is the peak scientific body in Australia & …
Treating insomnia in severe mental illness – what does the research say?
In a new text book published this month, Prof Flavie Waters, Dr Melissa Ree from Sleep Matters, and Ms Vivian Chiu (UWA) have summarised the existing scientific evidence for the use of Cognitive behaviour Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) in people with psychosis. They have also developed the Sleep Well, Feel Well with Psychosis Program which is an adapted treatment for Insomnia. The book a details instructions …
Sleep Matters News – O’Connor office now accepting bookings
A good night’s sleep is a beautiful thing that feels great and keeps us running in top shape.As little as 4 consultations can get you or your child back to better sleep and feeling more energised.We’re very excited to be expanding our sleep services in the south of Perth. In a couple of weeks we will be opening our lovely new office …
What is the recommended treatment for Insomnia?
Over the last 2 decades, scientific research has been consistent in it’s findings that Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is the gold standard treatment. One in three people regularly struggle with their sleep according to a recent study of sleep (conducted in Australia). We also know that around 10 per cent of the adult population suffers from chronic insomnia, which is …
Is it a myth that we need 8 hours sleep? How much sleep do I need? How much sleep does my child need?
Almost anything we read about sleep says we need 8 hours. Numerous studies have been published concerning the dangers of lack of sleep, to our general health and wellbeing. We now understand that sleep may play an important role in allowing to the brain to cleanse from toxins. So how much shut eye do we really need each night? New guidelines have been …
Awake late at night? Struggling to get going in the morning? Delayed Sleep Phase, a common teenage problem.
Struggling to get your teen out of bed and ready for school on time? Have they become a night owl who stays up after the family has gone to sleep? Are they losing sleep and feeling tired during the day? This can be an exasperating experience for both parents and children. ‘Delayed Sleep Phase’ can happen at any age but is …
The low down on screens before bed
There is a lot of talk about the negative impact of pre-bed screen use on sleep. Many of us still do it though…..and some of us do it and even sleep well. Media messaging often takes a one-size fits all approach and I want to challenge this. Sleep is a hot topic in the media – and so it should …
Are Power Naps helpful? What does the science say?
The answer is, it depends. Read on to learn about the potential benefits of naps and how to realise them. In general, for a healthy adult, a long daytime sleep is not a great idea as it is likely to lead to sluggishness on waking (often worse than before the sleep), and it can wreak havoc with sleep that night- especially if …