Sleep problems and insomnia

What can sleep problems look like?

The people who come to us describe trouble switching off at night, waking up and staying awake, or getting enough hours but never feeling rested.

Things people often mention:

• Lying awake with a busy mind, even when exhausted
• Waking in the early hours and not getting back to sleep
• Light, restless sleep that doesn’t feel restoring
• Tension in the neck, shoulders or back that makes it hard to get comfortable
• Feeling wired at bedtime and foggy in the morning

Sleep is often tangled up with other things people bring to us, like stress, low mood or trouble focusing. You don’t need a diagnosis to talk with us, and we don’t give one.

Should I see a sleep doctor first?

If there are signs of a medical sleep condition, yes. Loud snoring, pauses in breathing, gasping at night or heavy daytime sleepiness should be checked by a physician, because conditions like sleep apnea need medical care.

We’re glad to work alongside your doctor or sleep specialist. If you take medication or supplements for sleep, that’s fine. Decisions about medication belong to you and your prescribing doctor.

How does Dody Chiropractic look at sleep?

As a nervous system question: sleep depends on the brain and body being able to shift from alert to settled.

When that shift is harder, people often notice it in their thoughts, their muscles and their sleep all at once. Dr. Dody is both a chiropractor and a neurofeedback specialist, so he looks at brain activity, nervous system stress and the spine together before suggesting anything.