Why is sleep so terrible during perimenopause (and what can we do about it)?
The most common demographic profile I see in my clinic is a woman in mid-life, between the ages of 35 and 50. Some of the reasons have to do with caregiving as a woman in the “sandwich generation” or anxiety and depression related to life stressors, but the most common throughline for these patients is perimenopause—the host of hormonal and other biological changes that happen to women for the ten or so years leading up to menopause. If you're in your 40’s (or even on the other side of menopause) and experiencing mysterious awakenings in the middle of the night, you're not alone—and you're not imagining things.
Insomnia Medications Deep Dive (Part I): Know Your Pills
One of the first things most of my insomnia patients want to know is: Will I ever be able to sleep well without my sleep medications? Many are surprised to find that they can, despite having been on insomnia medications for years. So how can we safely and effectively navigate decision-making around sleep medications? We start by understanding what we’re taking. This is Part 1 of a deep dive on sleep medications, where we overview types of sleep medications and bust myths about how they work, so you can be informed when discussing options with your doctor.
New Year, New Sleep Philosophy: A Resolution You’ll Actually Want to Keep
The most successful New Year’s resolution is one that feels good in the keeping. Because I’m a sleep clinician, people expect me to nag them about caffeine curfews and “no screens in bed” (and sometimes I do), but years of experience tell me that the true key to better sleep is to start with the right philosophy—nurture your relationship with sleep, and the details will fall into place. So, for 2025, let’s set aside the rules of sleep hygiene for now and focus on a new mindset: Embrace sleep as a friend instead of an engineering problem, and it will be fun to keep the sleep resolutions that matter.