If you’re suffering from sleep deprivation, you’re not alone.

Do you wake up feeling refreshed in the morning and full of vitality? If your answer is no, then you have come to the right place. Your ability to stay awake and to be alert, or to sleep peacefully and restfully when we want to largely depends on our brain function.  Recent studies have found that almost a third of Australians are suffering from some form of sleep deprivation or changes in natural sleep habits.  Experts believe that sleeping too much or too little can have wide ranging implications on our health and well-being, and should be considered as important as a healthy diet and regular physical exercise.

A circadian rhythm is a natural, internal biological process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and repeats roughly every 24 hours.  Your circadian rhythm is regulated by your body’s internal master clock located in the brain.  This master clock controls many biological functions over a 24 hour period, such as the release of hormones, body temperature changes, and sleep-wake cycles.  You may notice how you tend to feel energised and drowsy around the same times every day – well this is your circadian rhythm at work.

The rates of sleeplessness have increased dramatically with more and more of us staying up at night using computers and mobile phones, leading to ongoing issues in our work and personal lives, as well as affecting our health.  This knocks our circadian rhythm out of sync and difficulties in falling asleep, staying asleep and insomnia arise. This is extremely common and known to affect thousands of Australians.

Signs and symptoms

  • Difficulty in sleeping or sticking to regular sleeping habits
  • Not feeling refreshed when waking from sleep
  • Having difficulty concentrating or focusing on a task for any length of time
  • Irritability or excessive anxiety
  • Experiencing accidents at work or at home because of sleepiness or loss of concentration
  • Moodiness or depression
  • Low immune system leading to the development of coughs, colds and flus
  • Weight gain
  • Low sex drive

It is also believed that sleep problems experienced over a long period of time can lead to a higher risk of developing illnesses such as diabetes or heart disease.

Causes of Sleep-Wake Cycle issues

Insomnia

Signs and symptoms of Insomnia can include the following:

  • Inability to sleep, even when tired
  • Irritability
  • Excessive drowsiness
  • A lack of focus or concentration
  • Low energy
  • Depression and anxiety

Bruxism

The signs and symptoms of Bruxism (teeth grinding) can include the following:

  • Wear and damage to teeth and fillings
  • Tooth sensitivity
  • Headache/earache
  • Jaw pain and stiffness – this will be most noticeable in the morning for sleep ‘bruxers’

Stress

Signs and Symptoms of Stress include:

  • The heart rate rises and we become more alert.
  • Extra blood is pumped through your body so you become stronger and as your core temperature rises you will perspire more.
  • Short-term a regulated stress response can help us survive and perform in the world, but over extended periods of time, this can cause problems such as insomnia, headaches, and muscular tension and pain.
  • Can make us more susceptible to illnesses such as the common cold.
  • Emotionally, we can also feel overwhelmed, angry, frustrated, and sad, while also finding it difficult to find the motivation to actually cope with the stressful stimuli and other demands.

Anxiety

Common symptoms and signs of Anxiety include:

  • Physical: Increased heart rate, perspiration, shakiness and dizziness, hot and cold flushes, and difficulty breathing.
  • Emotional: Unreasonable amounts of worry, fear, catastrophizing, and obsession
  • Psychological: Avoidance of situations or people

Grief and Loss Issues

You may be suffering from Grief & Loss processing issues if you are experiencing:

  • A state of shock, as if you have just woken up from a nightmare and are still in disbelief of what has happened.
  • Anger towards a specific person or event, and blame them for what has happened.
  • Sadness and large amounts of crying or isolation.
  • Your body may change physically and become more prone to weight gain/loss and illness.
  • Longing for the time prior to the event.

Traumatic Experiences

You may be struggling to mentally process a traumatic event if experience any of the following:

  • Anxiety
  • Avoiding talking about the event or experience, or situations related to the event
  • Anger, depression and sadness
  • Feeling ‘highly strung’
  • Experiencing flashbacks of the event or experience
  • Avoiding social occasions or hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed
  • Issues with sleeping
  • A lack of appetite or nausea
  • Loss of sex drive
  • Muscle tiredness or weakness, aches and pains
  • Feelings of guilt, especially if others were badly injured or had died as a result of the event or experience

Depression

Symptoms & signs of depression can include:

  • Feeling sad and upset nearly every day.
  • Gaining little to no enjoyment from previously pleasurable activities.
  • Insomnia or hypersomnia (sleeping too little or too much).
  • Sudden weight gain or loss.
  • Being fatigued, tired, or having low energy every day. Often being too tired to complete simple tasks like cooking food or washing dishes.
  • Feelings of worthlessness and guilt.
  • Constant feelings of indecisiveness and low motivation.
  • Being unable to concentrate on tasks.
  • Self-harm, Suicidal thoughts and attempts.

Burnout

Common symptoms & signs of burnout include:

  • Insomnia and difficulty sleeping.
  • Chronically fatigued and exhausted
  • Unable to concentrate and pay attention to tasks or other people.
  • Forgetfulness and finding it difficult to retrieve memories.
  • More prone to illness and physical pain, such as muscle aching and chest pains.
  • Loss of appetite or forgetting to eat altogether.
  • Low motivation and performance levels.
  • Pessimistic about work, school or relationships.
  • Using distractions such as drugs and alcohol.

How We Help You Control Your Sleep-Wake Cycle

At Brain Training Australia we offer in-person (Perth only) and remote Neurofeedback Brain Training sessions. All Counselling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Programs are run online via Telehealth. We work with you to contain, alleviate and resolve your Sleep-Wake Cycle related issues, to help you recover and stay well.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a therapeutic approach used to treat and manage problematic thoughts and behaviours. CBT helps the client to identify which thoughts and feelings are causing distress, and together with their Practitioner develop plans and strategies to actively challenge these. Here at Brain Training Australia all Counselling and CBT Programs are delivered online via Telehealth.

Neurofeedback

Neurofeedback is a highly effective and relaxing process and can benefit absolutely anyone who wishes to overcome their Sleep issues and regulate their brain activity.  Suitable for children, teenagers and adults, Neurofeedback is safe, natural, non-invasive and drug free. The client is simply required to relax in a recliner armchair while the Advanced Brain Training technology detects turbulence or inconsistencies in brainwave activity using an EEG, and corrects it using auditory perception interruption as you listen to some nice relaxing music.

Next Steps

The first step is to get in contact with us and book in for your first Neurofeedback session. This will allow you to experience a session, and see if its the right modality for you. We will also be able to advise you, given your presentation, whether Neurofeedback, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or a combination of both would give you the best result. The team at Brain Training Australia recognise the unique qualities of all our clients and will work closely with you to personalise your Brain Training Program so that you can achieve your goals of optimal mental processes. We look forward to helping you live a much richer, happier and healthier life.

Bruxism