082: Dr. Brian Curtis, Clinical Psychologist, Sleep Specialist & Founder of Honest Sleep LLC: Chronic Sleep Disruption & Its Direct Link To Mental Health
A good night's sleep isn't just crucial to your physical health—it's also essential for your mental health. In this episode, Dr. Brian Curtis discusses the connection between sleep and mental health. Dr. Curtis is a clinical psychologist, sleep expert, and founder of Honest Sleep, LLC. He found his way into the field of sleep medicine unexpectedly. After having chronic insomnia for 21 years, he sought out to quick fix that would help him deal with his insomnia. But he found that the underlying cause of his insomnia was his anxiety. So when he learned how to address this issue, he got better sleep—and then decided to become a sleep medicine specialist to help others with their sleep problems and any coexisting mental health problem. Dr. Curtis discusses anxiety, hyperarousal, chronic stress, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In conjunction, he provides tools and evidence-based strategies that you can use to manage the chronic cycle of anxiety-sleep disruption. Is your sleep getting in the way of your emotional regulation, energy levels, productivity, morning routine, work, creative projects, or simply your well-being in general? Listen to this episode to discover the link between your sleep and your well-being issues (particularly mental health!). And finally, what can you do if you're struggling with both.
The Sleep Is A Skill Podcast · Dr. Brian Curtis, Mollie McGlocklin, Mollie Eastman, Mollie McGlocklin Eastman
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Show Notes
GUEST BIO:
Brian Curtis, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist and founder of Honest Sleep, LLC, a telehealth-based clinical practice specializing in the assessment and treatment of chronic insomnia and nightmare disorder. He has over 12 years of research experience in the field of sleep medicine and is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine.
Dr. Curtis received a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and M.S. in Human Genetics from the University of Utah. Dr. Curtis’s work includes targeting comorbid sleep disruption for individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders, and depression. As sleep disruption is transdiagnostic across most mental health concerns, Dr. Curtis is particularly interested in helping fellow therapists increase their competence in the assessment and treatment of sleep-related difficulties with their clients.
SHOW NOTES:
😴 How Dr. Brian cured his chronic insomnia after suffering from it for 21 years and becoming a sleep specialist himself
😴 How anxiety and sleep are interrelated
😴 Sleep disturbances: anxiety, chronic stress, post-traumatic disorder
😴 Why sleep problems can persist despite successful anxiety treatment
😴 During pre-sleep, we can experience anxiety in the forms of planning and worrying
😴 Insomnia is the inability to fall asleep, stay asleep, or experience early morning wake ups
😴 CBTI or cognitive behavioral therapy is the multi-component treatment considered as the gold standard for treating insomnia; It is skill-based and isn’t pills based
😴 What are the evidence-based strategies to manage the chronic cycle of anxiety-sleep disruption
😴 How important is consistent bedtime and waking time?
😴 What is paradoxical insomnia
😴 A typical night's sleep for Dr. Curtis
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DISCLAIMER:
The information contained on this podcast, our website, newsletter, and the resources available for download are not intended as, and shall not be understood or construed as, medical or health advice. The information contained on these platforms is not a substitute for medical or health advice from a professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation.
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