Going to bed each night expecting to sleep badly is part of life for someone with insomnia. People with Insomnia may also believe that the day after a poor sleep will be difficult, mood will be low, important details will be forgotten, and tempers will flare. There might also be worry about sleep being out of control, and worse, worry that …
Sleep Well Feel Well with mental illness Program receives award from Australian Council of Healthcare Standards (ACHS)
Dr Melissa Ree from Sleep Matters is part of a team from the University of Western Australia who have implemented a sleep clinic within the north metro mental health service. We’re delighted to announce that this service has recently been awarded a high commendation from the Australian Council of Healthcare Standards (ACHS). So many people with mental health problems also …
Sunday Times article – “Ignore Insomnia”
Perth’s Sunday Times newspaper yesterday contained an article on Insomnia, with the suggestion that its best cure is to ignore it. This is an eye-catching title and I hope it caught people’s attention. Of course the article contains a mixed message, as on the one hand we know that sleep is so important for health and wellbeing, but on the other, …
Improving sleep in children
Paul Jeffery from Sleep Matters presented a seminar to parents at Queensgate Medical Centre last month. He discussed aspects of childhood sleep and provided tips for improving sleep in little ones. Here is a summary of his talk. From the age of 3 up until the end of primary school its estimated that children spend around 40-50% of their lives asleep. Sleep is crucial …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
New Years Resolution – Improve My Sleep! Want to sleep better without medication?
In our fast-paced world, Insomnia is VERY common. One in three Australian adults regularly struggle with their sleep and around 10 per cent of adults suffer from chronic insomnia. Insomnia is defined as a difficulty falling asleep or returning to sleep following night-time awakening, with significant negative impact on daytime functioning. Insomnia can be triggered by many different things – …
Does alcohol help or hinder sleep?
Many people believe that alcohol assists sleep. While it’s true that alcohol may help you initially get off to sleep, this is offset by a less restful slumber later in the night. As the silly season gets underway, it can be useful to bear in mind the impacts of alcohol on sleep. After a few drinks, we are more likely …