Worth Library presents sleep like a baby program

By Kelly White

National Sleep Foundation guidelines advise that healthy adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep per night. However, that’s easier said than done.

To help its residents get more snooze time, was the Worth Public Library, 6917 W. 111th St., with a program called, Sleep Like a Baby.

“I know a lot of adults, and especially parents, struggle with restful sleep and this seemed like a great way to educate people on how they can get a good night’s sleep,” Rachel Snyder, Library Director of the Worth Public Library, said.

During the free program, Diane Grimard Wilson, author of the award-winning book Brain Dance: My Journey with Invisible Illness, Second Chances, and the Wonders of Applied Neuroscience walked attendees through rewiring their brains to get that deep, restorative sleep so many people struggle with every day.

“The world is a stressful place right now,” Wilson said. “Sleep is pivotal to our life, resilience, and ability to thrive during even the most difficult of times. I love the mission of helping people sleep better. When clients sleep well, it’s rewarding. My clients teach their friends and family what they learn from me. I believe helping people sleep better is a tangible way of making the world a better place.”

Wilson, who has a private practice in Chicago, earned her Master’s Degree in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from the University of Akron in Ohio. Since then, she has also earned board certification in Neurofeedback as a Fellow from the Board Certification International Alliance. Her specialty is applying neuroscience to help people in their daily lives.

Wilson’s background for understanding sleep stemmed from a concussion/brain injury she had several years ago.

“As I found my way to healing through applied neuroscience, I developed a passion to join this field,” Wilson said. “So, I began reading, attending workshops, and doing internships. Then about 11 years ago, I prepared to take the three-hour exam for board certification. It covered information on key aspects of brain function – including sleep which is basic to brain health. Since then, from working with clients and my own life, learning about improving sleep has become a passion.”

Wilson said there are many reasons people struggle with sleep.

“Most people don’t have an awareness of what sleep is and does and how to manage the process,” Wilson said. “A good night’s sleep benefits our physical health and healing, our psychological sense of well-being, confidence, and our ability to work productively and connect with others in satisfying ways. Basically, it affects everything.”

During her program, she discussed the costs of getting insufficient sleep, including not enough sleep overall or lack of deep restorative sleep.

“There are many social, relationship, personal and health costs that most people do not know or realize,” Wilson said.

She also reviewed the benefits of getting sufficient deep restorative sleep in terms of physical and motional health, cognitive function (such as brain fog), relationships, and strategies for improving sleep, including Feng Shui, brain entrainment, cranial electromagnetic stimulation, nightwear and limiting or restricting Internet use at night.

“Truly understanding the role of sleep in our lives is foundational,” Wilson said. “Modern neuroscience increases our knowledge about this role with daily advances. For example, last week I read of a study that examined the relationship between pain and sleep apnea. We can rewire the brain by increasing our sensitivity to the environment where we are sleeping.”