Anxiety Road Podcast: Sleep

Showing posts with label Sleep. Show all posts

ARP 330 - A Quick Look at the Pulsetto VNS Device

I try to stay off of sites like Kickstarter and Indigogo. Too much temptation and even more disappointment. Back in the day, I use to support the up and coming companies.

But I got tired of waiting sometimes month before the product arrived. I have been burned by companies that found out it was hard to be an innovator.

Few days ago, I got an email that I was about to toss in the trash. Looked like spam. Anyway, I found out that it is an actual company that claims to treat anxiety, sleep problems and helping to focus attention.

Supposedly, this is a device that you place on your neck, apply a gel to help you make contact with the Vagus nerve for a tingling session of calm and relaxation.

It has possibilities for some of us that want more non-drug based symptom options.

But there are hitches in the giddy-up.

In this episode, a quick look at the Pulsetto VNS device.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned:

There is a post on SciTechDaily about reducing the amount of social media consumption called Can 30 Minutes a Day Save Your Mental Health?

Excellent Crash Course explainer video on what the Autonomous, Parasympathetic and Sympathetic system is, what it does and how it relates to stress and anxiety.

Chris Haslam at Wired.com review of the Pulsetto device, really good article.

HealthInsider post on Pulsetto Review: Can It Improve the Quality of Your Life?

The official Pulsetto website can provide more information if you are interested in this device.

Trust Pilot Reviews of the device.

Disclaimer:

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Show 285 Anxiety Symptoms and Dreams

Culture, Sleep, Symptoms

This is a pebble in the road about the definitions of dreams, bad dreams and nightmares.

If you are an highly anxious person this is one of many possible symptoms of stress and anxiety that you might experienced.

Vivid dreams and nightmares can be a sign of anxiety symptom. Or not.

It could be just your brains way of taking out the neural trash floating around the joint.

But you might have a different cultural or social way of understanding dreams. That is ok. It is important to recognize that your relationship with dreams and nightmares are your experience.

How you deal with them is also your experience. One that with the right information and context might give you the tools to control there appearance or doing the work on finding an effective treatment.

This episode only deals with what dreams and nightmares are, potential causes and triggers of the rascals and a resource or two to help you learn more about it.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned:

Brain Basics Understanding Sleep National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Dreams: What They Mean & Psychology Behind Them via Sleep Association.org

Nightmares: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

Sleep Diary and Journals

National Sleep Foundation Sleep Diary

National Health Service (UK) Sleep Diary

MyHealth/Alberta, Canada Sleep Journal

Disclaimer:

Show 264 Quick Look at Sleep Pod

Alternative, Sleep, Support

Hi folks, this is a pebble in the road about finding helpful aids for a better sleep. Being the anxious folks that we are, sleep is not always obtainable or consistent. Especially if you are living the chaotic life.

So there is this product called a Sleep Pod by a company called Hug Sleep. (I think, there may have been a name change) Oh, by the way this is not a sponsored or promotion product. Really more of my first look about product that claims to help people sleep.

How to describe this thing. To me, it looks like is a giant snuggly body sock for sleeping.

So this is a quick look at the product.

Resources Mentioned:

First off you might want to check out the original commercial for the product to see how it works. You can find it on YouTube.

There is a Freakin Reviews of the Sleep Pod, and he didn’t like it.

Fast Company has a review of the product and loved it.

Then there is a on Gizmodo, not so much.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Disclaimer:

ARP 255 Sleep Resources and Six Years Running

Sleep, Support

This is the sixth year of the podcast. Nothing like I envisioned it would be. The podcast was inspired by a lot of things.

Many years ago, I went searching for a podcast to help me understand what was going on. I found one but the gentleman was ending the show because the anxiety of creating and producing was too much for him.

I found others that were created by doctors using medical language I didn’t understand.

Or ones selling books, cassettes for treatment. Or really pushing medication as the only option.

It took a long time, but I finally got what I needed; a therapist who supported my desire for a more expansive view of treatment. That is the episode with other stuff thrown in as well.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned:

American Sleep Association page on What is Sleep so much more information about the process.

Join Scooter at the Sleep with Me podcast; you get at least an hour of a voice that might send you into the dreamscape.

For original storytelling there is Boarders of Sleep.

And if you are musically inclined there is the Deep Energy Podcast where you can get a taste of ambient and new age type music inducing slumber.

For those that want to experience something different, there is Moving Poems, a visual approach to poetry for those that are starved for poetry, don't have the time to pick up a book and need that balm of literacy. No, it isn't anxiety related but sometimes you have to jump off the grid.

From Harvard, an old school page on how to Assets Your Sleep Needs.

Disclaimer:

Show 253 Screening and Diagnostic Test

Road Map, Sleep, Support, Symptoms

I'm still in vacation mode until September. One of the things I hoped I’ve emphasized in the podcast is that you should have a medical evaluation and diagnosis from a health care professional.

The symptoms for anxiety are very similar to other physical health conditions. Having a medical examination would help to take some of the load off your shoulders.

That is the topic of the show.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned:

For those folks having trouble going to sleep, there is Snoozecast.com. Fiction, non-fiction or whatever floats your boat.

There is also the long time champ of them all, LibriVox with hundreds of public domain audios that are free to download and listen. I recommend The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope, read by Andy Minter.

Mental Health America Screening Tool

ADAA Screening Page - contains screening for a couple of anxiety conditions

Canadian Here to Help Screening page.

Disclaimer:

Show 241 - Learning from Ernest Hemingway

Addiction, Brain, Depression, Mood, PTSD, Resource, Sleep, Suicide, Support, Trauma

I generally don't talk about famous people unless they self-declare their illness or there is a compelling reason. Not in a million years did I think that I would have something to say about Ernest Hemingway.

I knew he was a writer. I knew that he seem to love adventure and liked the ladies both within and outside of the bonds of matrimony. And that he was thought of as a manly man.

So when I heard that there was going to be yet another documentary about Hemingway, I couldn't drum up any reason to watch.

Until I learned more about the man. There are multiple levels to his physical and mental pain.

You got family trauma. Not to mention an undiagnosed hereditary disease attacking his organs.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Bipolar Disorder with two other mood disorders s riding in the backseat.

Arthritis. Depression and anxiety. Self-Treating with alcohol.

Indeed he was a messed up man. Who wrote great books. Who was given the Nobel Prize for Literature.

He was a pip but he was also human. Sometimes good. Sometimes a jerk.

In this episode, a quick look at the things that in hindsight, Ernest Hemingway can teach us about dealing with our situation and being proactive about taking care of our bodies..

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned:

Hemingway - A film documentary by Ken Burns and Lynn Novic.

Ernest Hemingway: a psychological autopsy of a suicide by Christopher D. Martin.

PBS News Hour How mental health struggles wrote Ernest Hemingway’s final chapter by Dr. Howard Markel.

The American Chronic Pain Association has a number of links to pain management resources. Mr. Hemingway would have been eligible for at least six of them.

There is good stuff at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. They have information about Hemochromatosis.

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance FAQ page about depression and mood disorders. They also have on-line support groups. There are also resources at ADAA.org and the National Institute of Mental Health and Medline Plus pages on Bipolar disorders.

If you suspect that someone you know is trying to take themselves off planet there are somethings you can do to help. Bethe1to offers five action steps to help a person in need.

The Gospel at Colonus a retelling of the Greek play with an African-American twist. It is available on DVD but your could take a gander at the play on YouTube. The music is therapeutic and provides another example of somebody having a rough road in life.

Disclaimer:

The #With Me Video Playlist

Anxiety, Sleep, Therapy, Worry

I ignored this at first. I scrolled past it a number of times. I wasn't in the mood for platitudes about getting help. But then I came back to it and tried a video from The Psych Show.

Psychologist Ali Mattu, shows tangible, real things a person could do to chill out. Stuff that works for him, and maybe for you.

He ware personable, real and reminded me about the human connections we all need. Especially if you are going through a rough patch.

Anyway, I just want to make sure that if you happen to be on YouTube because you are feeling well then may take a look at some of the videos on the #With Me Playlist.

Some of these folks are behavioral health professionals. Some are people who have lived with a condition for so long, the know the basics a newbie would want to know.

Doesn't cost you anything to check it out.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Disclaimer:

Show 209 What Are Sound Baths?

Apps, Brain, Mindfulness, Music, Relaxation, Sleep

If you are curious about sound bath and sound meditation and want to know if this is something that could help you maintain sleep, be comfortable in your body or need a soothing sound sensory experience then this might be an episode of interest to you.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned:

National Alliance page of Mental Illness on Understanding Your Diagnosis. Really good article about the process and what to be aware of when you get a diagnosis.

My Safe Zone is an app for those that have active symptoms or have panic attacks. It is available on both the Android and iOS app stores. Or you can also visit the web site for additional support information.

Very Well Mind's information page on What are sound baths?

Ambient Sound Podcast with Matt Borghi where you can listen to soothing music. There is also a Spotify list for short clips or extended sound experiences.

Sound Bath: meditate, heal and connect though listening by Sara Auster that is available as a paper book, e-book or audiobook. You can video some of the pages of the book or listen to an except at the publisher's website.

Electric Sound Bath by Angela Wilson and Brian Griffith has a number of albums on their main website. You can purchase their work via Bandcamp.

Dynasty Electrik has music and sound bath type content also provider services via Zoom and they have a YouTube channel that you can access the content.

Sounds True has a number of recordings for recording on sound bath, meditation, crystal bowls and all manner of healing modes using sound. This is a link to their sound meditative offerings.

American Academy of Family Physicians. Family Medicine article about hydration.

Disclaimer:

Show 181 A Look at Weighted Blankets

Anxiety, Brain, Sleep, Support

There is a lot of marketing hype about the blankets. There are dozens of stories, but is there anything to support the popularity of the blankets?

And, should you get one?

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned:

The Cleveland Clinic article on can weighted blankets banish nighttime anxiety?

Mayo Clinic News Network story about the use of the blankets. There is a short video on the site talking about the findings or you can watch the YouTube version.

Harvard Women's Health Watch has some cautions about using the weighted blankets if you have sleep apnea, respiratory problems or chronic medical condition.

Sleep Junkie also has a page on how to wash blankets. They do not recommend washing weighted blankets. You might also want to check out their pages on Can Weighted Blankets Help with Anxiety and Insomnia? This site does have affiliate links but they are honest enough to tell you about them.

Disclaimer:

Show 149 - Five Things to Know About Serotonin

Anxiety, Breathing, Burnout, Exercise, Food, Mindfulness, Sleep, Support, Treatment

Lots to talk about in this episode, doctors getting burned out, more resources for managing stress and five things to know about the chemical Serotonin.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned:

From Reuters.com article about physicians burnout. The Happy MD has more resources for those docs who need some help and speaks to them on their wave length

Medscape article on physician burnout, depression and suicide report for 2019.

The National Alliance On Mental Illness (NAMI) has a post on 7 Tools for Managing Traumatic Stress.

For iOS and Apple Watch users, Stepz App for charting your movement and steps throughout your day.

Health Harvard Blog on Nutritional Psychiatry Your brain on food and how the foods you eat can have an effect on your mind and body.

Dana Foundation Neurotransmitters of the brain.

Dr Alex Korb article on How to Strengthen Your Brain's Happiness Circuitry and his post on Psychology Today on Boosting Your Serotonin Activity.

Disclaimer:

Show 147 - Apps to Help You Take Care of Yourself

Exercise, Grounding, Mindfulness, Sleep

When I talk about self care, I am referring to real life things you can do to help yourself reduce symptoms and feel physically or mentally better. The apps mentioned can help you with breathing practice, sleep monitoring or to help you ground yourself.

I am not talking about the foo-foo stuff. No spa is involved, no special mud or designer robe is required. So I got some apps, a web page and even something for those of you that have a device that you talk to from Amazon.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned:

FDA Statement from Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. on signing of the Agriculture Improvement Act and the agency's regulation of products containing cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds.

7 Minute Work Out, give the app seven minutes and move your body. for Android and iOS devices.

Sleepzy, Sleep Cycle Tracker to monitor your sleeping habits. This is for iOS users.

Stop, Breath Think guides you through the process. This app is available for Alexa users as well as iOS and Android. Alexa users can go to the specific web page to acquire the app instructions.

Grounding Strategies page on techniques: there is a video and article on the page that will help you to learn how to keep yourself in the present.

Oh, I forgot. The sheep. If you need mindless videos to help you fall asleep don't forget about the sheep from Baa Baa Land. It is a mind wiper, for sure.

Disclaimer:

In the Meantime TEDx Video How to Trick Your Brain into Falling Asleep

Sleep, Support

Yeah, I know but life happens and I gotta go with the flow. Hope to have medicine and cognitive behavioral therapy resources out by the weekend.

In the meantime, there is a neat video about how to trick your brain into falling asleep. It involves your hands and possibly another body part.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Disclaimer:

Show 143 - Tetris Effect and Digital Hatfields and McCoys on Sleep

Anxiety, Sleep, Stress

This episode I mention the Tetris Effect Game and a view about sleep from the perspective of the digital Hatfields and McCoys.

In the last episode I talked about Surf Therapy for vets that have PTSD. Hanging ten isn’t just a great way to connect with nature.

Moving your body has a bio-chemical effect on your brain. If you have an anxiety condition and also have depression as part of your experience, then you might want to add some kind of regular movement.

It doesn’t have to be much, maybe taking a PE class at the local community college in something you wanted to try. I took a pottery class and I have to say it is a good way to have the opportunity to smack something around.

You know what you get to do in a potter class? Pound the hell out of clay. Plus when you start throwing, shaping and spinning that will definitely take you out of the land of the digital.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned:

Dana Smith has an article on the Popular Science site on how the lack of sleep looks the same as severe anxiety in the brain.

Engaget article on the Tetris Effect for Anxious and Distracted Minds

2017 New York Times article about Miwa Sada, who worked 159 hours of overtime in one month.

Business Insider looks at Elon Musk remark and offers their own spin on it. There is another BI article from August 2017 that mentions 30 bad things that can happen when you are sleep deprived.

To learn more about improving the quality of your sleep visit Sleep Education.org

If you want to learn more about how technology affect sleep there is a post on the Sleep.org website.

Disclaimer:

Show 131 Possible Causes of Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety, Causes, Sleep, Trauma, Worry

Does knowing why we have an anxiety disorder help people with their treatment? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. There are those of us that need to understand how we got to this place so that we can begin to correct it.

Other people don't care about the why, just make it stop. Fix it. In this episode, a look at the possible causes of an anxiety disorder.

I'm still on vacation light as I both rest and generate new episodes. I have a lot of good ideas in the hopper and I hope to start sharing them in a few weeks.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned:

Helpguide.org has a page for those of you with panic attacks and panic disorders.

The Mayo Clinic has a page about symptoms and causes of an anxiety disorder

National Institute of Mental Health page about risk factors such as shyness, family members having a mental illness or financial hardship,

The music selection this week is Lanquidity from PurplePlanet.com

Disclaimer:

Show 114 Hydra-8 App and Sleep Information Resources

Brain, Sleep, Therapy

The topic for this episode is sleep resources. In the podcast, I mentioned using Ulysses as a sleep aid. I mean no disrespect to James Joyce. It is a fine book but let just say it is packed with words. It is possible that Ulysses and Leopold Bloom might help to usher sleep faster.

Just thinking about it has got me yawning.

You certainly can find excellent versions on Audible but might I recommend the 2007 version or the 2014 version at LibriVox.org

Life is what you have now. If the voices are telling you otherwise or if you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned:

Association of American Medical Colleges page on the psychiatric doctor and related shortages of staff that are needed to treat Americans needing psychiatric help.

Your brain wants water. There are a number of water tracking apps - be sure to check out the permissions before downloading but you could check out Hydr-8 Water Minder & Counter.

If you have anxiety, depression or have a phobia or two you know that sleep can be affected. Or you might not know. This would be a good time to learn about it so one of the places to check out is the Anxiety and Depression Association of America's page on how Stress and Anxiety Interfere with Sleep.

The Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Get Sleep dives a bit deeper into the need for sleep, how it affects moods and how to assess your sleep needs.

From Harvard, an old school page on how to Assess Your Sleep Needs.

Disclaimer:

Show 097 Baa Baa Land and Clown Phobia

Phobias, Sleep, Support

This week there is a brief look at the slo-mo movie Baa Baa Land and a look at the culturally permissible fear and anxiety about clowns. There are people that have clown phobia.

But there are a lot more people with a culturally induced fear and hatred of clowns. That shift happened about 40 years ago. Think about it, when was the last time you saw a positive modern representation of a good clown?

The days are not a dark as they seem. There are people who will listen. If you feel suicidal contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned:

Baa Baa Land Movie - When you need to count sheep but are wide awake.

Refinery 29 post on Why You Should Think Twice Before Saying Your Workout Is "As Good As Therapy"

Minnesota Public Radio has an audio story about on-line therapy.

Brain Pickings article on A Stoic’s Key to Peace of Mind: Seneca on the Antidote to Anxiety

Smithsonian Magazine on The History and Psychology of Clowns Being Scary

Business Insider on Why people are afraid of clowns.

Disclaimer:

The Healing Power of Sheep - Baa Baa Land, The Movie

Complementary, Sleep, Worry

Sleep is definitely an issue for people with anxiety, panic or phobia conditions and disorders. We are already wrapped up too tight and then trying to catch some ZZZZ is like charcoal powder on a cake; want the cake but have to go through hell to get to it.

I don't know why sheep are associated with sleep or how the counting sheep thing came into being. I can say just thinking about it as I type has induced a yawn or two.

The good folks at Calm.com know at good thing when they see it. So there is a meadow, some sheep and to make sure the brain doesn't get too excited, the movie is in slow motion.

That's right, slow motion. Eight hours and 1 minute of slow motion sheep.

Need something to do while you practice your breathing?

Need to wind down but don't want to watch a movie?

Like sheep?

This is the movie for you.

Times might seem rough but not for the final dip. If it is getting too dark contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only.

Nothing in this program or blog is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Show 087 Amala Hopeline, Microglia and Food for Sleep

Food, Panic, Resource, Sleep

You do not want chest pains. You do not want to have the shakes, the vomiting, the visceral fear that can come with a panic attack. Nobody does. One of the things you can do is to take care of your brain. Making sure you get enough sleep is very important.

What you put in your body is equally important for brain health and anxiety symptom control. In this episode, Mice, sleep and foods that nourish the brain.

If you're having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for immediate help: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Resources Mentioned:

The Amala Hopeline for young Muslim Americans who need to talk to somebody. The telephone number is 855-95-AMALA or you can reach them via Twitter at @amalahopeline
Vice article on How to Not Cure Your Panic Attacks which is really about how to work with and not against your panic attack.
Robby Berman's write up on Big Think about sleep, brains and cell damage.
The actual name of the study is Sleep Loss Promotes Astrocytic Phagocytosis and Microglial Activation in Mouse Cerebral Cortexs
Khan Academy video on what Microglia actually do, they are the clean-up crew, they are soldiers, they are those rough riders on wheels looking for some action.
Sleep Foundation of America on how much sleep you actually need.
BBC Good Food with examples of food that is good for your brain.
PDF from the Cleveland Clinic on Food for Brain Health with reasons why you need to dial down the sugar and avoiding the five food felons
Stop Breathe and Think allows you to dial in your current mood, how you feel and then it will offer you meditations that https://app.stopbreathethink.org/

Disclaimer:

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only.

Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

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