Resources for sleep problems

Sleep problems frequently occur following brain injury. I was able to restore my normal sleep patterns with neurofeedback, acupuncture, sensory integration therapy AND without the use of medications. I am 7 years post brain aneurysm rupture, brain surgery, a recent car accident and concussion and have successfully restored my quality of life.

If you have brain trauma, there is a good chance that your memory has been affected – and perhaps more severely than you realize. Because of the trauma you’ve endured, the brain is “locked” into a pattern that started in the hospital. In the hospital, you were probably awakened every hour, two hours, four hours as part of the treatment. This pattern of waking is still “trapped” in your brain. Your body doesn’t have the memory of what a “normal” sleep pattern is, so this is something you have to relearn. But this isn’t something you can teach yourself. You need to find the therapies that will allow you to “break out of the pattern” and start to heal the trauma you’ve endured.

For further explanation, please visit: http://www.greatbrain.com/ (this also explains how neurofeedback can help)

The following sentences (although they don’t “flow” very well) contain “key words” that I would encourage you to research. The hypothalamus is the part of the brain that is responsible for regulating sleep. Hormones play an important role in regulating brain function as well. Circadian rhythms are essentially the body’s clock. Brain trauma can disrupt circadian rhythms.

What can you do to “normalize” sleep?

1. Find a neuro endocrinologist who can order the tests listed in this research article: http://pituitary.mgh.harvard.edu/NCBV11I2.htm

2. Find a neurologist who specializes in brain injury AND neurofeedback, have a QEEG to find out what brain wave abnormalities you might have, and have neurofeedback. For information about how this treatment can help with sleep, please visit: http://www.isnr.org/information/sleep.cfm

3. Find an acupuncturist and start treatment. For information about how this treatment can help with sleep, please visit: http://www.yinyanghouse.com/treatments/insomnia_treatment_cam_research

4. Ask your primary care physician to test your Vitamin D levels – both 25 OH and 1,25. You need Vitamin D (it’s actually a hormone) to help regulate your sleep. You should also get 15 minutes of sun exposure per day. For more information, please visit: http://www.womentowomen.com/healthynutrition/vitamind.aspx

5. Find out if you have sensory integration issues. An occupational therapist who specializes in this area might be of some help. Tomatis therapy may also help. http://www.tomatis.com/

6. Here is a good website for resource information on sleep issues: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/brain_basics/understanding_sleep.htm.
Tips for getting a good night’s sleep are listed at the bottom.

The web sites I have listed are for informational purposes only and are not an endorsement.

You might “google” the key words I have mentioned and find out more information.If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via email. lifelinesbi@sbcglobal.net.