Insomniac

Bipolar people have the most trouble sleeping.

The earliest I remember having trouble sleeping is about age ten. I'm 63 now and when I hit menopause my lifetime sleep problems escalated to the point that I gave in and turned to medications.

Unfortunately, I had both typical and atypical side effects to a long array of meds tried: Those designed for sleep and those that are prescribed off label because they have a sedative side effect, mainstream and alternative. The side effects, which ranged from sluggishness the following day to hypnopompic and hypnogogic phenomena to dehydration and muscle cramps, were as bad as not sleeping.

Someone suggested neurofeedback. I found a provider, tried it and started sleeping better within a few sessions. Other things happened as well: No more of the anxiety dreams I'd had regularly for decades. My husband said I wasn't angry at him as often (I thought he'd just been behaving better), and more. And, since I'm a psychotherapist, I started thinking about which of my clients could benefit. I wanted my own system and I figured one or two neurofeedback clients a week in addition to my regular therapy clients would pay for the system in less than a year.

I offered it to one therapy client. She sent two or three friends. It's now about six years later, and neurofeedback is half of my busy practice.

So, for anyone reading this blog, as well as its author if neurofeedback is not familiar, I recommend it be considered, especially for those who have a history of being hard to medicate (as do many of my clients). I'm in New York City's Upper West Side, but on my website are links to international provider lists.

Catherine Boyer, MA, LCSW
catherine.boyer@gmail.com
http://www.newyorkneurofeedback.com

Thanks for that thoughtful comment. I have heard good things about neurofeedback.
I tried a version of it long ago, biofeedback, it was called then--I give an account of this in INSOMNIAC. I may not have got the right practitioner, or my insomnia may not respond to that particular treatment, I don't know. But it is certainly something insomniacs should try.

As I say in the blog, I'd recommend medication only as a last resort, after you've tried everything--and neurofeedback would be high on my list of things to try.

Great article. I would like your permission to reprint your article on my blog, with proper credit.

Thanks,
Ron

Sure, gladly, though I'll ask you to mention sleepstarved.org and INSOMNIAC.

.Your photographs of the sea are beautiful. I sometimes use images like that, photos I've taken traveling, to help induce sleep. Shimmering water and wide horizons.

Have you considered doing a write-up on "Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder" as well?

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