Episode 26: When sleep is a problem with Dr. Afolabe-Brown

Episode 26: When sleep is a problem

 Dr. Afolabi-Brown is a board-certified sleep medicine physician and pediatric pulmonologist, founder of Restful sleep MD. She empowers busy moms prioritize their sleep.

 The struggle is real – pain and lack of refreshing sleep go hand in hand. We talked all things sleep:

• “It feels like I was hit by a truck”. Where do you even start when a client/patient tells you that’s how they fell?
• Two main issues with sleep: 1. Quantity versus quality.
  • Brown does not necessarily recommend using fitbit or “gadgets” to measure sleep (just another thing to worry about or stress about!)
  • She explains why sleep diary may be a good option
• Three “buckets” that can affect the quality of the sleep and lead to non-refreshing sleep:
  • Medical factors disrupting sleep: sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, pain
  • Behavioral issues: habits such as caffeine consumption, napping during the day
  • Mood factors: anxiety, depression, autism, ADHD 
• The approach is INDIVIDUAL – meaning NOT Every person needs a sleep study! I gave Dr. Brown a challenge presenting a scenario when someone has a little bit from EACH BUCKET 
• We do talk about some basic labs that should be ordered for medical issues evaluation.
• If you have an underlying mood disorder, you should not be left untreated. Dr. Brown strongly endorses partnering with a psychiatrist or psychotherapists to help control those issues.
• What does it mean actually to have INSOMNIA – when you have it, you will need more than just sleep hygiene (which is a great tool to promote sleep)

 Insomnia means having difficulty falling and staying asleep or early morning awakenings.

• CBT-I (cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia) is a recognized, tested therapeutical intervention for insomnia
• Sleep related issues are rarely just one cause/one solution situation (but sometimes they are)
• Brown answers my question on how to approach a situation when a client is not interested in pursuing medical evaluation for daytime sleepiness and fatigue.
• For physicians and providers = helpful suggestion on how to actually order a sleep study
  • Including ordering a HOME sleep test! – she explains what does the home sleep study actually accomplishes.

• Summary of Dr. Brown’s wise words: Start with fundamentals:
  • Healthy sleeping habits – wake up every day the same day!, meditation, mindfulness, journaling, many apps to help with sleep
  • Having a wind-down routine before the bedtime
  • Cool dark noise-free environment, reduce technology, use bed for sleep and intimacy only

• Of course we had to talk about THC gummies, valerian root and melatonin:
  • THC gummies help to fall asleep but not necessarily stay asleep or quality of sleep
• At the end Dr. Brown shares her secret – CONSISTENCY – she treats her sleep as an appointment with a doctor – because SLEEP IS TREATMENT, and is FREE. She makes an appointment with her sleep because it gives her multiple benefits.

• Dr. Brown can be found at:
  • RestfulsleepMD.com, also on IG
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