Sleep Unplugged with Dr. Chris Winter Chris Winter

One of the aspects of insomnia that can be both a perpetuating factor and and target for treatment is exploring dysfunctional beliefs. In this episode we will:
Explore different types of insomnia beliefsUnderstand how these beliefs impact insomnia therapyLook at the relationship between dysfunctional sleep beliefs and depression and alcohol abuseExamine sleep beliefs in the general public as well as younger/university populationsDetermine ways in which these beliefs can be targeted in insomnia therapyProduced by: Maeve Winter

More
Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

Dreams happen, and unfortunately, sometimes those dreams are nightmares. For most, these terrifying nights are few and far between. For a small few, nightmares become a frequent and unwanted nighttime norm. In this episode we will:
Revisit parasomnias, in this case nightmare disorder, and determine what defines itDifferentiate this disorder from night terror/sleep terror disorderExplore the epidemiology of the problemList its underlying causesReview the medications often used to treat the problemDiscuss other treatment options often employed in the disorderProduced by: Maeve Winter

More
Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

Narcolepsy is a misunderstood medical disorder and as such, it generates some fascinating stories and anecdotes when you treat narcolepsy. In this episode we will:
Discuss the difficulties narcolepsy patients go through just refilling their medicationsDissect the idea of narcolepsy patients and abuse of their drugsEvaluate the enthusiasm the medical community has for the treatment of narcolepsyConsider some of the less obvious obstacles narcolepsy patients faceUnderstand the difficulties with the depictions created of narcolepsy patientsProduced by: Maeve Winter

More
Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

The health benefits of yoga are widely espoused, but for many, the belief is that the benefits are derived mainly from the physical nature of the poses or asanas. The breathing exercises and techniques (pranayama) are often ignored. In this episode, we will:

-Explore the sleep-specific benefits of breathwork to not only bring oxygen to the brain, but to also influence the energy of the body (referred to as prana or chi).
-Review the various stages of breathing and why many individuals practice an incomplete/inefficient form of breathing
-Practice a three-part deep breathing diaphragmatic breathing technique called Deerga Sawasam ("Three-part breath")
-Link these breathing techniques to the engagement of the parasympathetic nervous system, instrumental in reducing anxiety and relaxing into sleep
-List various research studies looking at the positive effects of pranayama in terms of lowering anxiety/stress and improving sleep
-Add this to our sleep toolbox as an accessible method for calming our minds and preparing for restful sleep

Written by: Maeve Winter
Produced by: Maeve Winter

More
Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

Though widely regarded as pseudoscience for many years, there has been a recent resurgence in the practice of earthing/grounding. This practice aims to dissipate excess electrical charge and reestablish electrical homeostasis. While the act of grounding is common practice in high voltage appliances, is it really necessary of beneficial in the human body when currents are miniscule in comparison. In this episode, we will:
Explain the concept of grounding in modern electrical wiringDiscuss the electrical nature of the human bodyReview studies claiming physiological changes in grounded individuals such as increased ferritin and lower blood glucose levelsEvaluate studies showing grounding effects on blood pressureUse stress as a sleep surrogate and review available literature of the effects of grounding on stress in both animal and human modelsSwitch to pain as a potential sleep disruptor and discuss the studies showing reduced pain and faster recover via groundingTouch on the large limitations of this small body of research and the ways in which bias and poor study construction can influence resultsDispel concerns about the "dangers" of groundingProduced by: Maeve Winter

More
Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

There are no shortage of insomnia treatments and we have covered many on this podcast. In honor of April Fool's Day, we spotlight 10 unusual treatments and continue our yearly tradition of sharing the funniest listener comments about the show. In this episode we will:
Discuss biofeedback as a potential insomnia therapyEvaluate the act of rocking or vibration as a sleep-inducing actionLook at various mental tricks like pretending your alarm has just gone offTouch upon visualization techniques involving rising warmth or light passing through the bodyReview acupuncture as an insomnia therapyList the benefits of a clean roomFind ways the direction of your bed might be influencing your sleepProduced by: Maeve Winter

More
Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!