Sleepless in America

Healthy rest, problem sleep, and the dreams and nightmares therein.

John Cline, Ph.D., works at the Sleep Disorders Centers of Connecticut and Waterbury Hospital Regional Sleep Lab. He also teaches psychiatry at Yale University. See full bio

Sleepless in America

January 18, 2010

Are We Really Getting Less Sleep than We Did in 1975?

We frequently hear that life has become more complex, stressful and time pressured over the past few decades. It is typically assumed that this has led to people getting less sleep than in the past. This is a concern because short sleep durations have been linked to major health issues such as obesity and hypertension. Read More

January 4, 2010

Dealing with Shift Work

I have always thought it ironic that the sleep medicine field recognizes the challenge of getting good sleep and functioning well, because a grueling schedule involving working over-night is inherent in the work of sleep medicine. Much of the important work in the sleep field is done on third shift! Read More

December 13, 2009

Sleep and the 24/7/365 Economy

What do the Challenger disaster, the Chernobyl nuclear reactor meltdown and the Exxon Valdez oil spill all have in common? Read More

November 16, 2009

Managing Jet Lag

Jet lag occurs as a result of rapid travel over several time zones so that there is a temporary mismatch between the internal timing of the sleep/wake cycle and the external time demands for the sleep/wake schedule of the changed time zone. Read More

October 19, 2009

Jet Lag

You may have seen the recent Saturday Night Live skit about ‘Muammar al-Gaddafi' attributing his rambling UN speech to jet lag. While the skit was funny, jet lag is not. Read More

September 24, 2009

Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder Part 2: Treatment

Kristin was late to school again, as she had been so many times before. Since she didn't go to bed until 3:00 a.m., she wasn't able to get out of bed at 6:30 a.m. for school. This time she had to meet with the principal. Read More

August 30, 2009

Delayed Sleep Phase

Kristin was running late again. Could she possibly make it to school on time? Why had she stayed up so late last night texting her friends? Read More

July 28, 2009

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia Part 5: Sleep Hygiene

This is the fifth and final post on the cognitive behavioral approach to treating insomnia. Sleep hygiene involves following simple rules designed to promote better quality sleep so as to enhance daytime functioning.

Poor sleep hygiene relates to a number of habits that can have a detrimental effect on sleep. Read More

July 13, 2009

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia Part 4: Sleep Restriction

Matt was lying awake in bed, again. It was 3:30 a.m. His wife and young children were soundly asleep. The hours passed slowly. Thoughts drifted through his mind as he reviewed the day's events. The next morning he could not remember clearly what he had been thinking about all those hours in bed. Read More

June 14, 2009

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia Part 3: Cognitive Restructuring

In the last post I discussed the use of stimulus control methods to help manage and overcome insomnia. This post will discuss the use of cognitive techniques in the treatment of insomnia. Read More

Sleep Basics

For many of us, sleep is the sweet balm that soothes and restores us after a long day of work and play. But for those for whom sleep is elusive or otherwise troubled, the issue is far more fraught. Most people, at some point in their lives, experience difficulty falling asleep.

Go to the Sleep Basics page for more on Sleep including:

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Heartbreak and Home Runs: The Power of First Experiences

How early life experiences shape our character.

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