Friday, 27 September 2019
Wednesday, 25 September 2019
LISTEN: What Are the Risks of Vaping?
Vaping has made global headline news recently following a reported 8 related deaths in the USA and hundreds of cases of respiratory illness.
The following radio segment gives excellent up to date info.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0008jfh
The following radio segment gives excellent up to date info.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0008jfh
Wednesday, 12 June 2019
Why Do We Hallucinate?
An interesting article that examines some of the mystery surrounding why people can hallucinate, and the reasons we see what we see.
https://www.quantamagazine.org/a-math-theory-for-why-people-hallucinate-20180730/?fbclid=IwAR1U5uFyCPwk0ZhDw9lEwtziR6xFs1vnbrpXjX0vOdeZ7rQTECcD-f0tfAc
https://www.quantamagazine.org/a-math-theory-for-why-people-hallucinate-20180730/?fbclid=IwAR1U5uFyCPwk0ZhDw9lEwtziR6xFs1vnbrpXjX0vOdeZ7rQTECcD-f0tfAc
Wednesday, 5 June 2019
VIDEO 100 Micron MRI Scan of the Human Brain
1000 times more detailed than a regular MRI scan. For full description please follow the link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4v78RDd17s
Friday, 17 May 2019
Sleep Hygiene Top Tips
The Centre for Clinical Interventions (CCI) https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/ provides outstanding psychological resources both for clinicians and those looking to help themselves or others. I would highly recommend having a look through their website and bookmarking for future reference as their information is not only very complete, but refreshingly concise!
Their fact sheet on Sleep Hygiene is outstanding. Please see the following link to read the full article.
https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/~/media/cci/mental%20health%20professionals/sleep/sleep%20-%20information%20sheets/sleep%20information%20sheet%20-%2004%20-%20sleep%20hygiene.pdf
To summarise, the article is a guide to 'Sleep Hygiene' that is, the things you can do to provide yourself with the best possible chance of a good nights rest and lists 15 top tips.
1. Keep to regular waking and sleeping times.
2. Only try to sleep when you feel tired to avoid frustrated time 'trying to sleep'. *Contradiction with point 1 noted... see point 3)
3. If you can't get to sleep for 20 mins get up and do something relaxing/boring then go back to bed to try again, then repeat if necessary.
4. Avoid all stimulants such as caffeine for 4-6 hours before going to sleep.
5. Avoid alcohol 4-6 hours before bed the same reason.
6. Train your body to use your bed only for sleeping by using the bed only when you want to rest (not watching tv, working etc)
7. Avoid taking naps in the day. If you do need a nap make it before 3pm and less than one hour.
8. Make a 'sleep ritual' to prepare your mind/body for sleep. This could be stretching/breathing or anything that is calming in the time period before wishing to sleep.
9. Having a hot bath 1-2 hours before bed. Research shows that sleeplessness can be caused by a low body temperature, thus by raising the body temperature in a bath is can make you drowsy and more able to sleep.
10. Don't clock watch. Constantly checking the time can reinforce anxious feelings and make it harder to sleep.
11. Using a sleep diary can be helpful to track progress (though do it without checking the time constantly!)
12. Regular exercise can assist with good sleep, though strenuous activity in the 4 hours before bed is not recommended.
13. Balanced diet. Sleeping on an empty stomach can be distracting, as can sleeping on a full stomach. A light snack can work well, as can warm milk that is a natural sleep enhancer.
14. Ensure your environment is right. A good temperature, quiet, dark and with adequate, comfortable space.
15. If you have a bad night sleep do not alter daily activities as this can promote insomnia.
*I wonder if these tips will work on my 5 year old daughter??
Their fact sheet on Sleep Hygiene is outstanding. Please see the following link to read the full article.
https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/~/media/cci/mental%20health%20professionals/sleep/sleep%20-%20information%20sheets/sleep%20information%20sheet%20-%2004%20-%20sleep%20hygiene.pdf
To summarise, the article is a guide to 'Sleep Hygiene' that is, the things you can do to provide yourself with the best possible chance of a good nights rest and lists 15 top tips.
1. Keep to regular waking and sleeping times.
2. Only try to sleep when you feel tired to avoid frustrated time 'trying to sleep'. *Contradiction with point 1 noted... see point 3)
3. If you can't get to sleep for 20 mins get up and do something relaxing/boring then go back to bed to try again, then repeat if necessary.
4. Avoid all stimulants such as caffeine for 4-6 hours before going to sleep.
5. Avoid alcohol 4-6 hours before bed the same reason.
6. Train your body to use your bed only for sleeping by using the bed only when you want to rest (not watching tv, working etc)
7. Avoid taking naps in the day. If you do need a nap make it before 3pm and less than one hour.
8. Make a 'sleep ritual' to prepare your mind/body for sleep. This could be stretching/breathing or anything that is calming in the time period before wishing to sleep.
9. Having a hot bath 1-2 hours before bed. Research shows that sleeplessness can be caused by a low body temperature, thus by raising the body temperature in a bath is can make you drowsy and more able to sleep.
10. Don't clock watch. Constantly checking the time can reinforce anxious feelings and make it harder to sleep.
11. Using a sleep diary can be helpful to track progress (though do it without checking the time constantly!)
12. Regular exercise can assist with good sleep, though strenuous activity in the 4 hours before bed is not recommended.
13. Balanced diet. Sleeping on an empty stomach can be distracting, as can sleeping on a full stomach. A light snack can work well, as can warm milk that is a natural sleep enhancer.
14. Ensure your environment is right. A good temperature, quiet, dark and with adequate, comfortable space.
15. If you have a bad night sleep do not alter daily activities as this can promote insomnia.
*I wonder if these tips will work on my 5 year old daughter??
Tuesday, 19 February 2019
Technology Use in Addictions Therapy
Wearable technology is being developed by Case Western Reserve University as an automatic alert system to aid people quit smoking, possibly the first time a mobile alert system has been used to aid addictions in such way.
Two armband sensors have been developed to demonstrate a 98% accuracy in determining movements associated with lighting a cigarette as oppose than other similar motions such as eating or drinking. When these sensors detect the specific movement pattern of smoking a short 'motivational' video message is automatically sent to the user via a smart phone app, with the intention of halting the thought process and stopping the act of smoking.
The technology is being combined with an online platform that includes mindfulness training and an individualised stop smoking quit plan. In years to come is this what behavioural change therapy is going to look like? I think it is a great example of how increasingly intelligent technology can be used to benefit our health.
Full article
http://thedaily.case.edu/tech-takes-cigarette-smoking/
Two armband sensors have been developed to demonstrate a 98% accuracy in determining movements associated with lighting a cigarette as oppose than other similar motions such as eating or drinking. When these sensors detect the specific movement pattern of smoking a short 'motivational' video message is automatically sent to the user via a smart phone app, with the intention of halting the thought process and stopping the act of smoking.
The technology is being combined with an online platform that includes mindfulness training and an individualised stop smoking quit plan. In years to come is this what behavioural change therapy is going to look like? I think it is a great example of how increasingly intelligent technology can be used to benefit our health.
Full article
http://thedaily.case.edu/tech-takes-cigarette-smoking/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)