Sleep Talking With Dr. Shelby

According to the American Psychiatric Association, one third of all adults experience insomnia symptoms, It's that prevalent. But when it comes to treatment for insomnia, what's the best course of action? Around since the 1990s as a comprehensive, manualized treatment for insomnia, CBT for Insomnia has been the gold standard for addressing this issue. To learn more, we've invited Dr. Michael Grandner.

If the perfect bedroom existed, what would be in it? To explore the connection between bedrooms and sleep, we've invited interior designer Jennie Pritzker, for a deep dive into design, decor and the decisions that can make your bedroom an ideal place for sleep.

When is it time to replace your pillow? What should you look for when you do? And for those of us with neck or back pain, is there a right way and a wrong way to sleep on your pillow? To dive into this topic, we've invited Marten Carlson, Lead Reviewer for Pillar4 Media, with six years experience testing pillows, mattresses, and all things sleep.

What can a regular yoga practice do for your sleep? Do different styles of yoga impact sleep differently? And what can you try right now to relax, settle your mind and signal to your body that it's time to rest? To dive into this topic, we've invited renowned yogi, author, and fitness instructor Kristen McGee. Throughout her career, Kristen has been a pioneer in making yoga more accessible, helping launch the Peloton Yoga Program, starring in over 100 yoga and Pilates videos, privately training celebrities, and appearing in countless health focused TV shows and magazines to advocate the benefits of daily yoga.

We're here to answer every question you've ever had about nightmares? What do we know about them? What distinguishes them from a sleep terror? What are some of the known causes of nightmares in adults — from late-night eating to certain medications to psychological triggers, like anxiety and depression? What have been some of the wildest case studies and what can listeners do if they persist?

Every year during the second week of October, people come together to raise awareness and understanding of obsessive compulsive disorder. As part of our commitment to sleep health here at Sleepopolis, we're honored to take part in OCD Awareness Week this October by releasing this special episode, our second in a series on mental health, to better understand what life is like for people affected by OCD: how to recognize it, how to cope with it, and how to get the best sleep possible if you're affected by it.

Throughout October, which is known as ADHD Awareness Month, people come together to educate the public, reduce the stigma, and support those affected by ADHD. So, to uncover the challenges faced by people with ADHD and how to recognize it early on, we've invited not one, not two, but three very special guests for this special episode: Dr. Carrie Jackson, Nikki Kinzer, and Pete Wright.

Every year on September 22nd, scores of people come together to exchange stories, share research, and build awareness for narcolepsy during World Narcolepsy Day. As part of our commitment to sleep health here at Sleepopolis, we're honored to share this special episode this September in the hopes that more people will learn about and diagnose their own narcolepsy, the chronic sleep disorder experienced by one in every 2,000 Americans. It's not so rare.  But what is narcolepsy? How can you recognize it? And most importantly, how can you prioritize your health if you have it? To unpack these questions, we've invited leading narcolepsy spokesperson and award winning author, Julie Flygare.

Ever stream something before bed, listeners? Ever fall asleep still listening to your speakers or headphones? Have you ever put on something new and just lost track of time?  If so, it's possible you've been binge watching. And you're not alone. I do it too, sometimes. According to recent surveys, an estimated 70 to 90 percent of Americans routinely binge watch. That's not entirely surprising. The advent of streaming and the ability to consume countless hours of nearly anything is still relatively new. And the associated health concerns are still being studied. So how does binging like this really affect our sleep? Is it that much worse to binge in bed?

As we all unfortunately know, cancer is a major disruption for everyone in its wake. But whether we're dealing with our own diagnosis or that of a loved one, there are tools and methods for improving our quality of sleep and our quality of life, from the initial diagnosis to the treatments we choose to pursue and beyond.

Whether you've slept with one or not, wearables and sleep tech have gained popularity over the last decade particularly, with a reported one in three Americans now using a ring, watch, wristband, or some other device to track their health data. But how much can we really learn from these devices? How much can we really rely on them? And how much should we rely on them? And what should everyone know before adding a new piece of tech to their sleep routine? To learn more about the research behind this emerging technology, we've invited neurologist and sleep specialist, Dr. Cathy Goldstein to discuss what actually works.

Too often, sleep is marketed as something you need fancy gadgets and accessories to do well. Something you need an hour long wake up and wind down routine for. But most people don't have time or money to spare for so called sleep luxuries. In this episode, we're taking a closer look at the social determinants of sleep. The conditions in which people live, learn, work, and age, which affect their health. To help, we've invited novelist and journalist Jessica Grose. An opinion writer at the New York Times, Jessica explores culture, politics, religion, health, and the American family through her twice weekly newsletter, and is the author of books like Home Economics, How Couples Manage Their Money, Sad Desk Salad, and most recently, Screaming on the Inside: The Unsustainability of American Motherhood.

How does irregular eating become an eating disorder? And perhaps more crucially, how can we curb the unhealthy eating habits that disrupt our sleep, our well being, and our lives? To explore this link between eating disorders and sleep, we've invited Dr. Rene Zweig, founder and clinical director of Union Square Cognitive Therapy.

Toddlers jumping into your bed at 2 a.m.? Need to sleep train a 4-year-old? Or change a sensitive kid's wake-up time? In our third and final episode as part of our Kids and Sleep series, Dr. Shelby Harris, Dr. Allison Shale, and Dr. Andrea Roth answer questions from Sleepopolis readers about the most difficult sleep situations happening in houses across the world.

Welcome back to part two of our special three-part episode on kids and sleep, in recognition of Children's Awareness Month this June to reflect on how we can prioritize our children's health and well being. In part one, Dr. Andrea Roth, Dr. Allison Shale, and I discussed common sleep behaviors and treatments for children. Today, in part two, we're diving even deeper. Next time, in part three, Dr. Andrea, Dr. Allison, and I will wrap things up by answering your questions!

What do we do when our kids just can't sleep through the night? Should we turn to a sleep specialist first, or maybe a psychologist? Someone who does both? Today, in recognition of Children's Awareness Month this June, we're kicking off a special 3-part series to reflect on how we can prioritize our children's health and well-being all month long. To help, we've invited Dr. Andrea Roth and Dr. Allison Shale to talk about common sleep behaviors and solutions for children from newborns to grade schoolers. Because if your child has trouble falling asleep, it may be more than just sleep issues.

Women are more likely to have trouble falling – and staying – asleep than men. We’ll give you three guesses as to why, but you’ll only need one. (If you guessed hormones, you’re right!) Because women experience so many hormonal fluctuations throughout their life (during puberty, pregnancy, perimenopause, menopause) in comparison to men, they tend to experience more sleep problems, especially as they near menopause. This doesn’t mean you’re doomed to wander the earth a sleep-deprived zombie. In this episode, Dr. Harris dives deep into how to work with your changing body and talks to a woman who’s tried everything but just can’t get the shut-eye she needs.

"This is not the time to completely be your most productive self. You're already being productive by growing a human! So if you have the opportunity to sleep next to your toddler, please go take a nap. Like, anytime you can, close your eyes and take a nap." Dr. Shelby Harris chats with Dr. Shieva Ghofrany about what matters most when it comes to pregnancy and sleep.

Can changing up your diet give you better sleep? What foods or food habits could we maybe do without? And most importantly, what should we all be eating more of to make sure we're getting the best rest possible? To explore this link between nutrition and sleep, we've invited Ellie Krieger, registered dietitian nutritionist, author and a prominent TV show host and executive producer. With shows like Ellie's Real Good Food, the Food Network hit Healthy Appetite, and her own ongoing podcast, One Real Good Thing, Ellie is an expert at cutting through dietary trends, offering accessible tools for a satisfying lifestyle.

Is it true that seniors need less sleep? How do various health conditions affect sleep duration and comfort as we age? Dr. Shelby Harris discusses all the myths and realities for rest past the retirement age with Dr. Kerry Burnight, a gerontologist with a passion for instilling older adults with confidence and capability — even in the bedroom.