Minds and Mics - Insomnia Myths & Misconceptions with Dr. Daniel Erichsen

Insomnia Myths & Misconceptions with Dr. Daniel Erichsen

03/27/20 • 59 min

Minds and Mics

Nick and Daniel trade off describing their favorite myths and misconceptions about insomnia and sleep.

Show Notes:

Does everyone need 8 hours of sleep per night?
Should I go to bed at the same time every night?
The crucial difference between feeling tired and feeling sleepy
If I’m not getting 8 hours of sleep, am I at risk for major health issues?
Do I need to avoid blue light before bed?
Do things cause insomnia or beliefs about things? See also: Nick's Complete Guide to Insomnia
The problem with sleep hygiene
Sleep is more about what you don’t do than what you do.
Sleep effort and the perfect metaphor for insomnia
Is it important to get an even number of sleep cycles?
Beware the Sleep Hygiene Industrial Complex
If I have a big day coming up, should I get into bed early?
Can I pay off my long-term sleep debt?
How important is it to understand what caused my insomnia?
Triggering factors vs maintaining factors in insomnia
Insomnia and threat-monitoring
Is insomnia even a sleep disorder?
Does sleep quality deteriorate with age?
Should I avoid exercise in the evenings?
Intention is everything when it comes to sleep.

You can follow Daniel Erichsen online in the following places:

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Nick and Daniel trade off describing their favorite myths and misconceptions about insomnia and sleep.

Show Notes:

Does everyone need 8 hours of sleep per night?
Should I go to bed at the same time every night?
The crucial difference between feeling tired and feeling sleepy
If I’m not getting 8 hours of sleep, am I at risk for major health issues?
Do I need to avoid blue light before bed?
Do things cause insomnia or beliefs about things? See also: Nick's Complete Guide to Insomnia
The problem with sleep hygiene
Sleep is more about what you don’t do than what you do.
Sleep effort and the perfect metaphor for insomnia
Is it important to get an even number of sleep cycles?
Beware the Sleep Hygiene Industrial Complex
If I have a big day coming up, should I get into bed early?
Can I pay off my long-term sleep debt?
How important is it to understand what caused my insomnia?
Triggering factors vs maintaining factors in insomnia
Insomnia and threat-monitoring
Is insomnia even a sleep disorder?
Does sleep quality deteriorate with age?
Should I avoid exercise in the evenings?
Intention is everything when it comes to sleep.

You can follow Daniel Erichsen online in the following places:

Previous Episode

Hypnosis Revealed with Traci Stein

Nick and Traci separate myth from reality on the topic of hypnosis and discuss what clinical hypnosis can actually be useful for.

Show Notes:

Common misconceptions about hypnosis
What is hypnosis, exactly?
Hypnosis vs Positive Visualization, Flow, and Mindfulness
What does hypnosis actually feel like?
What is a hypnotic trance?
Everyday trances
For Love of the Game
Suggestibility
Hypnosis and healthy behavior change
What is hypnosis especially useful for?
Hypnosis for smoking cessation
Nick’s unconscious self-hypnotic inductions
Hypnobirthing
Self-hypnosis
Holly Forester-Miller — Surgery video (a bit graphic!)
Self-hypnosis for confidence and public speaking
American Society of Clinical Hypnosis
Traci Stein’s self-hypnosis audio programs

You can follow Traci online here:

Next Episode

An Expert Guide to Assertive Communication with Dr. Randy Paterson

Dr. Randy Paterson guides us through the ins and outs of assertive communication, explaining why it's essential for healthy, happy relationships in work, love, and life.

Show Notes

What is assertiveness?
Common misconceptions about assertiveness
The 4 styles of communication
The benefits of becoming more assertive
The barriers to being assertive: the stress barrier; the social barrier; the belief barrier
Why it’s so hard to ask for what you really want
Demanding what we want vs informing people of what we want
DESO scripts
Why it’s hard to say no to what you don’t want
How to handle confrontation well
Strategies for constructive confrontation, especially how to find common ground
Are we responsible for other people’s feelings?
Beyond assertive communication: taking responsibility for your own life

You can learn more about Randy and his work here: