Dr Uttara (psychologist at St. John's Hospital) and Dr Luke (psychiatrist at St. John's Hospital) interacted with the group on psychological and emotional aspects of dealing with a chronic disease. A short recap of the session : -
The Do's and Don'ts of sleep hygiene were discussed :-
DO:
Establish a regular bedtime and rise time
Establish a relaxing pre-sleep routine that you use every night before sleep, such as washing your face, getting into pajamas, reading or listening to soft music before turning the lights out
Exercise in the late afternoon or early evening
Take a hot bath a couple of hours before bedtime
Establish a comfortable sleep environment (e.g. bed and bedding)
Sleep in a dark, quiet area that is temperature and humidity controlled
DON'T:
Take daytime naps
Use gadgets like phone, tab, laptop in bed
Drink alcohol before bedtime
Use stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine
Go to bed too hungry or too full
Eat offensive foods, such as spicy or acidic foods (e.g, orange juice) before bed
Try too hard to fall asleep OR Watch the clock
Take prescription and over-the-Counter medications that might be stimulating (check with your doctor)
Thank you to everyone who attended the meeting!
