Did You Know? About Sleep Problems

Fact: Up to 67 percent of women report that they experience sleep problems a few nights a week, and 46 percent of women report that they experience sleep problems every night! (National Sleep Foundation, 2007 Sleep in America Poll).

Details: There are easy behavioral steps that you can take to promote healthy sleep. In fact, behavioral treatment for insomnia is as effective in the short term and more effective long-term than sleep medications. Keys to effective sleep include:

-Getting up the same time every morning.
-Avoiding napping.
-Getting out of bed if you’re not asleep in 20 minutes and doing something else.
-Avoiding stimulants such as nicotine, caffeine and food four hours before bed.
-Avoiding alcohol.
-Exercising regularly, but preferably four hours before bed.
-Keeping a “to do” list or have a “worry time” early in the evening.
-Relaxing before bed
-Turning your clock around; using an alarm.
-Only sleeping in your bedroom (no TV, work or computer use in the bedroom)

Be active: March 3 through March 9 is National Sleep Awareness Week. Visit the National Sleep Foundation for more information at www.sleepfoundation.org.

Information by: Kathleen Ashton, PhD

Eating Disorder Awareness Week

Did you know...
* At least 10 million females and 1 million males in the U.S. are battling anorexia and bulimia, while another millions more suffer from binge eating disorder.

* Eating disorders are a silent epidemic with devastating and life-threatening consequences. Anorexia has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.

* Eating disorders affect people from all walks of life, including young children, middle-aged women and men,and individuals of all races and ethnicity.

* Treatment does work! A team approach with focus on both the body and mind can help people overcome the symptoms and develop a positive body image and live a healthy life.

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week is February 24 through March 1, 2008. This week we encourage you to visit the OPA EDAW site (http://www.ohpsych.org/Public/EDAW.htm) for more information.

The OPA Public Interest Committee also ask you to consider donating a pair of jeans to a local charity in the spirit of The Great Jeans Giveaway. The theme of EDAW is "Be Comfortable in Your Genes. Wear Jeans that fit the REAL You!" Please visit http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org and click on NEDAW for more information about the giveaway.

If you have questions or would like more information, please marylewis@earthlink.net.