Sleep Problems: Your Brain Can’t Recover if You Don’t Give it A Rest!

In order for your brain to recover after a concussion/brain injury, it’s crucial that you get enough sleep, and all five stages of sleep. During sleep, the brain is able to repair and grow cells, tissue and nerves that regenerate and boost the hormone and immune system. Sleep problems can cause issues with memory, thinking, mood (depression, anxiety) and chronic fatigue/chronic pain. Along with good nutrition and stress reduction, restorative sleep is vital for your optimal physical, mental, and emotional health.

My book Coping with Concussion and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury contains an elaborate chapter on sleep problems, specifically relating to post concussion syndrome (PCS). Chapter 9 on sleep problems discusses all aspects of sleep, such as:

• The importance of sleep
• The stages of sleep necessary for restorative sleep
• Why sleep problems can occur after a concussion
• The different types of sleep disturbances
• Diagnosing and assessing sleep disturbances
• Conventional, alternative, and complementary treatment options, as well as practical suggestions

Below are three practical suggestions to achieving restorative sleep from Coping with Concussion:

• Wake up at the same time every morning, while adjusting bedtime according with how one feels in the morning
• Avoid sleeping pills, if possible
• Avoid TV and cell use before bedtime

Get more practical suggestions, treatment options, and other sleep information here.