Today, we know how important it is to get adequate rest. Unfortunately, not everyone has the chance to get it. Even more unfortunate is the fact that your past actions concerning sleep can affect your habits today. In fact, new research has recently linked childhood sleep problems and substance abuse. However, there is hope. With…
A study from the University of Warwick Medical School in Coventry, England, has linked certain anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) and hypnotic (sleeping) drugs with an increased risk of early death. The study was published in the British journal BMJ.
Delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS) is a condition characterized by a change in sleeping patterns that delays a person’s habitual sleeping sessions by two or more hours a night. The condition forms one specific subtype of a group of officially recognized mental health disorders called circadian rhythm sleep disorders. Teenagers develop DSPS more often than…
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a depressive illness that usually appears during the fall and wintertime when daytime light levels start to naturally decrease. It produces symptoms very similar to those associated with major depression and other depression-related conditions. According to the results of a new study published in 2013 in the Journal of Affective…
Sleep disturbance is a general term that doctors use to describe any difficulties relating to the ability to fall asleep or stay asleep throughout a sleeping session. Some people with these disturbances have problems severe enough to qualify as official sleep disorders, while others do not. Schizophrenia is heavily linked to sleep disturbances, and for…
Meeting with a therapist can help an individual navigate life challenges and develop skills for dealing with everyday or more severe problems. In some cases, however, patients are meeting with a therapist to receive help for more severe problems. When it comes to some conditions, however, therapists are cautioned to avoid certain techniques.
Narcolepsy is characterized by extreme fatigue and falling asleep at unusual times, such as in the middle of a conversation or while performing an ordinary, everyday task like answering an email. Among the scientific community, however, narcoleptics are also known for something else: an ability to resist addiction to strong drugs like amphetamines.
Those whose chosen method of relaxation is late-night TV may want to turn in their remotes. Recent research shows that too much light at night can lead to symptoms of depression. The research was presented October 21 at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in Chicago and will appear in the December 28…
Postpartum depression is a part of new baby reality for many parents as they try to adjust to the major changes in life due to creating a new one. While many a new mommy has taken specific drugs designed to address postpartum depression, a new study finds that the she might just be tired. The…
Cognitive behavioral therapy is often used in treating substance abuse as a way of getting an individual back on a normal track of life. While it has seen some success in this area, researchers are also finding that it may help those suffering from chronic insomnia.