February 3, 2012

Reawakening the Nation about the Cost of Sleep Disorders

A new report released yesterday by the Sleep Health Foundation counted the cost of sleep disorder related issues to Australia.

Some of the statistics revealed:

The fact that sleep disorders contribute to other diseases and injuries is not new news, but the figures are.

The proportion of each condition attributable to a sleep disorder is as follows:

  • 10.1% of depression
  • 5.3% of stroke
  • 4.5% of workplace injuries
  • 4.3% of motor accidents

The report found that sleep disorders cost the Australian economy $ 5.1 billion/year in health care and indirect costs.

And a whopping $ 31.4 billion per year if you count in the loss of “life quality” associated with sleep disorders.

The ‘Re-awakening Australia’ report was commissioned by the Sleep Health Foundation, conducted by Deloitte Access Economnics and funded by untied grants from Philips Home Healthcare Solutions, Resmed Asia Pacific Ltd and Fisher and Paykel Healthcare.

Timely news for people coming to the Sleep Mojo Live Seminar in Sydney tomorrow.

There are still spaces available (at the time of writing), click Sleep Mojo Live to attend.

 

December 26, 2011

Interview with Psychologist Victoria Kasunic

Its the day after Christmas 2011 and I’m relaxing with friends, but thought I’d let you listen to an interview I did very recently with psychologist Victoria Kasunic.

Victoria will be a special guest at the Sleep Mojo Live Seminar in February in Sydney – and many of you have expressed an interest in hearing what she has to say.

She’s an experienced Sydney psychologist with her own private practice, but has also worked behind the scenes on the recent TV programs “Go Back To Where You Came From” and “Making Australia Happy”.

In this interview I’ve asked Victoria a range of questions that I’m sure you’d like to ask too. What do psychologists do? When is it appropriate to visit a psychologist? How do they work? How do you find a good one?

Putting the psychologist on the couch, so to speak! Ha ha.
Oh, I really did want to know if you lie down on a couch by the way, and yes, I did ask.

Click here to find the interview with Victoria Kasunic

Victoria has some very helpful information, I recommend you listen to the interview.

I’m hoping to see you in Sydney in early February for Sleep Mojo Live. Have you booked?

November 28, 2011

Emotions and Sleep Disorders

I’ve just put a new page up about the emotions that can effect sleep.

You know that there are a lot of factors underlying (‘scuse the pun) sleep disorders, and emotions are a significant reason for sleep disorders.

If you go to Getting Emotional About Sleep Disorders you’ll find the following:

  • A list of reasons why people can’t sleep
  • A list of emotions that get in the way of a great night’s sleep
  • Examples of emotions that we deal with at work, at home and in the family situation that might keep us from sleeping well
  • Some questions that might lead you to look at what you do, and how you react when presented with some emotionally troubling situations
  • Solutions directed towards different emotions that are associated with your sleep disorders.

It is important to recognize and do something about your emotional problems.  It is also important to put your emotions into perspective.  e.g. everyone has some rough times in their life, there are good and bad things that happen in everyone’s lives.

Deciding what level of importance you place on the problems and emotions is vital – so that balanced solutions can be found.

Remember, there is always help if you ask for it.

And keep in mind that if you are depressed and don’t know where to turn, please contact one of the professional depression lines that is available in your country, Lifeline, Beyond Blue, Kids HelpLine etc.

If we didn’t feel, we wouldn’t be human.

In the comments below tell us if you found a great solution to an emotional problem you had or have – it would be great for everyone to be helped by your experience.

Warmly

 

Elizabeth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 22, 2011

The Real Costs of Sleep Deprivation

Media Release

The current publication from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) features a study into loss of work performance from insomnia that estimates that the human capital value was $2,280 per person per year.  If Australian workforce figures for sleep deprivation reflected these it would equate to about $ 19.5 billion annually.

Other studies highlight the connection between fatigue and road and industrial accidents (with the related insurance costs).  Other sleep deprivation costs would need to include the costs of behavioral problems and intellectual debt associated with childhood disordered breathing during sleep, and the effect sleep deprivation has on anxiety and depression.  Then there are studies linking it to coronary conditions, weight increase, elevated blood pressure, memory retention, even our sex lives.  The cost is very significant.

Insomnia is always a symptom of something else.

Elizabeth Shannon in her book Sleep Mojo says that identifying the underlying problem behind insomnia is the most important step towards finding your tailored solution.

“Many people don’t realize it is quite complicated”, Shannon says, “they think that the problem is insomnia itself, and the solution is a pill of some kind – either prescribed or otherwise.”  The truth is very different.

By identifying individual sleep patterns and habits often lead to an accurate assessment of what might be their best sleep strategies, instead of trial-and-error experiments.  And predictably there are general health strategies that suit all insomniacs.

“I understand the frustrations of lack of sleep, and the poor information that is available, and I’ve put together a weekend workshop Sleep Mojo Live educating insomniacs, not just to help them identify their underlying problem, but matching all-natural solutions to those problems”.

Distilling down 12 years of research, she’s isolated 10 different insomnia types, based on her 80/20 rule, and will suggest methods to help each type sleep better naturally.  The sleep solutions range from diet and exercise, proven psychological techniques, to neurologically based information and research.

“I’m confident that this seminar will be ground-breaking, with some of the latest information disagreeing with conventional wisdom in the sleep industry” Shannon concludes.

The Sleep Mojo Live Seminar will be held at North Sydney Leagues Club on February 4 and 5, 2012.  The cost is a $ 30 USD donation to the Youth Off The Streets charity.  To book go to http://www.SleeplessNoMore.com/sleep-mojo-live.  Limited seating available.