Tag Archives for " chronic illness "

Sleep Improvement Quick Tip #6: No late-night meals or snacking in bed.

We’re all familiar with the dozy satisfaction of having just eaten a nice (or large) meal.  Unfortunately, while digestion does make us feel more tired, it will actually make it harder for you to fall or stay asleep.  Want to make sure you don’t sleep well?  Eat a nice big meal right before bed.  For better sleep, make sure that you finish your last meal at least a couple hours before bedtime and avoid snacking in bed.  If you can’t sleep at night and decide to get out of bed for a while to get a snack, make sure it’s something that is low in sugar and easy for you to digest.  No spicy Indian leftovers!

Sleep Improvement Quick Tip #3: Don’t lay awake in bed

We’ve all been there. Tossing and turning, counting sheep (or llamas – hey, I don’t judge!), checking the clock, wishing your partner would stop snoring, the list goes on. But you don’t have to lay there and sleeplessly suffer! In fact, you shouldn’t. Experts recommend that you should stay in bed trying to fall asleep for no more than around 20 minutes. The reason is that the more we lay awake in bed, the more we train our brains that bed is for laying awake, not for sleeping! So instead, if you can’t sleep after about 20 minutes, get up and do something else calming – like reading or meditating – for a little while until you start to feel drowsy, then climb back in bed.

Coping with the Loss of a Loved One to Chronic Illness

Chronic illness takes many forms – cancer that has gone from acute to chronic, auto-immune conditions that slowly destroy functioning, Alzheimer’s and other disorders. They all take a huge toll on loved ones, family, friends, caregivers – not just the patient.  Here are some of my thoughts on the subject, and why you should be kind to yourself:

Losing Someone You Love to Chronic Illness

I hope that you are gentle with yourself and others during this painful process.  And if you need help – call or text me at (310) 625-6083.

To your health,

Dr. Gretchen

What to Expect When You Come to Therapy the First Time

I’m so glad you’re curious about what it’s actually like to go to therapy. We have so many ideas picked up from film and television, and they can make it seem humorous, scary, weird, or just plain daunting and uncomfortable. If you’re here, I know you’re thinking about asking for help, and I want to make the process as comfortable as possible, so take a look at this video:

What to Expect When You Come to Therapy

I look forward to hearing from you soon!

To your health,

Dr. Gretchen