..read more

..read more

..read more

What are the connections between sleep and mental health?   The way disrupted sleep can affect mental health issues — and vice versa — is so well-known and age-old that this trope is ingrained in our classics of literature. From Don Quixote to Shakespeare’s Macbeth, cautionary tales about how poor sleep can damage mental health – as well as the reverse being true — are many and varied.   Fast forward to the present day, and one thing I keep getting asked about is how sleep and mental health interact with one another. In these challenging times, constantly adapting ..read more

For many of us, the prospect of banning technology two hours before bed can be as horrifying as insomnia itself. Luckily, there are ways to have your digital cake and eat it too.   Catching up on social media, or even a few last emails, can be a tempting way to clock off for the night. But there’s a cost to our 21st-century obsession with staying connected 24/7. There have been many studies verifying the link between exposure to blue light and the suppression of melatonin, a hormone that is crucial for helping us fall asleep.   Our body’s internal clock Your circadian rhythm is like ..read more

As seen on Channel 9’s : Today Show interview, the following sleep related offerings are available The Sleep Expert’s 8 week online training and coaching program People who have difficulty sleeping, have often tried sleeping tablets, cutting out coffee, going to bed at the same time every night, sleeping aids, special diets, and whilst these things may support their sleep, they often aren’t enough. I had a similar journey, and it is why I decided to dedicate my life to helping others with their sleep. Over 10 years I developed a mind body approach that addresses the root causes of insomnia ..read more

There’s a huge link between sleep and fertility in men, and much of it is thanks to the sex hormone testosterone. So, if you are looking to start a family, it may help to look at your sleep, to optimise your testosterone and hence fertility.   What does testosterone have to do with sleep? Testosterone is elevated during sleep, but you’ll need to sleep for at least three hours before your testosterone levels rise. Conversely, testosterone decreases when you’re awake and decreases even more the longer you’re awake.  This handy hormone is super important when considering fertility. Test ..read more

Do you often doze off whilst watching TV and then get into bed and can’t seem to fall asleep again? As a Sleep Coach, I often hear people say they have this experience. Watching television can put our minds into a trance-like state, allowing us to begin to switch off. With the distraction of the show’s storyline, combined with the speed of the changing pictures, we are gradually coaxed into a hypnotic alpha brainwave state. For those of us with a busy monkey mind, it can work better than meditation, because of the distraction of the storyline. So, if we are not skilled at slowing our minds, or ..read more

Ever wondered if your sleep affects your fertility? New evidence proves there are direct links between sleep and fertility in both men and women. If you’re looking to start a family, it may help to look at either your melatonin if you’re a woman, or testosterone if you’re a man.   How sleep affects fertility in women Sleep affects fertility in women thanks to a key special hormone: melatonin. Adequate quality sleep means more melatonin. Also, the quality and duration of our sleep, affects our cortisol levels, and sends a signal to our bodies indicating how “safe” we are. Lack of safety me ..read more

Sleeping pill use has increased exponentially since 2003, but are we aware of the effect they have on us? The medical community have become increasingly wary of the tiny pills linked to a number of celebrity overdoses due to their side effects ranging from memory loss to death, even when taken as prescribed. Here is everything you need to know about sleeping pills.   How many people take sleeping tablets? Firstly, we need to consider the rise in insomnia. In Australia in 2016, symptoms of insomnia were present in 20% of adults: 23% in women and 17% in men. As 1/5th of the population strug ..read more