Please notice the depth of rest, serenity and peace in these sleeping children. It's what many adults yearn for in their lives. Please give this gift to yourself by getting eight hours of sleep every night.
You've probably heard me, read me ranting, cajoling, discussing, pleading, begging, joking and lecturing on the importance of getting adequate sleep, like eight hours a night on a regular basis. I'm thrilled to see this film come to the airwaves. Please watch it.
Please take a moment to view the "Sleepless in America" Trailer from National Geographic.
What it may not say, and I see this often in people working through their recovery from an eating disorder, is that sleep deprivation is an alteration in consciousness and can be addictive like any substance that alters your consciousness.
Being sleep deprived is not just about lack of time in a busy schedule. It's about a dependence on a hazy, warm, vague feeling of drifting that takes you away from anxiety and dims your cares. Sleep deprivation is as dangerous as any addictive drug and may require conscientious effort to go through withdrawal on your way to an adequate sleep routine.
Please watch the film.
Give yourself a week of adequate sleep. Then, let us know how you did it and how adequate sleep affects your day.
Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Written by Joanna Poppink, MFT. Joanna is a psychotherapist in private practice specializing in eating disorder recovery, stress, PTSD, and adult development.
She is licensed in CA, AZ, OR, FL, and UT. Author of the Book: Healing Your Hungry Heart: Recovering from Your Eating Disorder
Appointments are virtual.
For a free telephone consultation, e-mail her at
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