The Connection Addiction

Connection Addiction

Continued from our Retreat & Renew Daily Tip.

Q: Do you believe that Americans are experiencing worse sleep than they have in the past, and if so, what do you think are the major culprits?

A: Yes. I believe there are three main reasons Americans are not getting good sleep.: An over-abundance of electronic devices (mind stimulation effect + EMFs), sympathetic (nervous system) overload and excessive caffeine use.

Q: With the advancement and accessibility of technology, people get addicted to being connected to the world through smart phones, computers, and television and develop an incessant desire to maintain what now has been recognized as a “connection addiction”.

A: It’s a part of the reality of our culture, especially within the X and Y Generations (age groups 32-48 and 12-32 respectively) and the need to be in front of a computer or smart phone creates two primary harmful consequences to sleep if used before bedtime: 1.) a decrease in melatonin production due to the light effects on the pineal gland in our brain and an alteration of a set schedule of sleep onset, i.e., people, especially our youth, don’t want to put down their phones, etc and go to sleep. This electronic gadget or mind stimulation effect has another deleterious outcome that also overlaps with an intercontinental, global news effect of what I call “global overload”, whereby our nervous systems are over-loaded, essentially continually bombarded with information from everywhere in the world, almost instantly.

Our brains need to be able to slow down, our bodies need to relax, and our minds need to empty the recycle bin on a daily basis for good health of our nervous systems. If our calm is not attended to, our nervous system becomes continually stimulated and can develop a pseudo sympathetic excitation syndrome which I believe could be characterized as a disconnection with our bodies natural calming automation and replaced with stress, anxiety, and tension, all of which play havoc on our sleep.

And finally, we are in an age of coffee houses and the cola industry being so ubiquitous, that caffeine stimulation has become a major portion of our minds inability to shut down into a meditative or quiescent mode, both of which are essential to a good night’s sleep. People should not drink any caffeine after 3 pm in the afternoon, or at least 7-8 hours before going to bed. Caffeine is definitely a stimulant and if used incorrectly or taken at the wrong time, can disrupt sleep onset.

Q: Why are prescription sleep aids not a good solution for better sleep?

A: Prescription medications can be our best friend or our worst enemy. Generally speaking, if one does everything possible including life style changes to improve our immune system, adhere to good sleep hygiene, eat right, and exercise regularly, we will not need to dip into the medicine cabinet. We are art of a culture that is overstimulated, over-medicated, obsessive and over-weight. Conservative Integrated Wellness is by far the best and most productive lifestyle that will lead to longevity, good health, a sound mind, and a productive and healthy body.

But, for those who truly need chemical balance and the brain is not producing the right neurochemical, properly prescribed medications can save lives and be our best friend. Without question, there are medical conditions such as mental or psychiatric disorders that need psychotropic drug implementation, and with so, can make our society a safer place and enable a person to lead a normal life. But, far too many people look for the easy fix or the pill that’s going to relieve their symptoms and don’t look into the cause of their feelings or condition. Oftentimes, the actual cure is that a person needs better sleep. Often times it is taking care of their pain or ailment through Chiropractic or other forms of natural medicine. And oftentimes, it is just a matter of eating properly and getting more effective exercise. The path to better health is not always the easy fix, it is usually a better lifestyle.

Dr. Raymond Hall DC
September 2013