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Sleep Lab
OCD intrusive thoughts: More than just a bad dream
After a long day, many of us look forward to unwinding in bed, lights off, rolling over, and shutting off from the world. However, it’s not always easy for those with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), with nighttime often being something they dread or even avoid....
Sexsomnia: The defence for drunken men?
Is ‘sexsomnia’ a genuine medical disorder or the latest ‘get out of jail free card’? As its use as a legal defence grows, experts are raising alarm over its potential misuse. In 2011, Joseph Short was found not guilty of raping and physically assaulting a...
Polyphasic sleep: The new 8 hours?
In a world that never slows down, sleep can feel like wasted time. Polyphasic sleep promises to maximise productivity whilst cutting rest, but at what cost? Thomas Edison once said, “Sleep is a criminal waste of time and a heritage from our cave days.” As a society,...
Culture
Sex dreams uncovered
WARNING EXTREME EXPLICIT CONTENT Sex dreams are a normal part of life and sleep, but they can often leave you wondering what they mean. While some studies say that sex dreams are manifested in the want to have sex or potentially unmet desires. Sometimes, sex dreams...
The calm of Nordic nights: Sleeping in Helsinki
While some cities rush through the day and seize at night, collapsing to sleep, Helsinki moves differently. The rest is quiet, intentional, and deeply valued. It’s a cultural priority. The Finnish approach to rest is rooted in stillness, simplicity, and a steady...
Yes, the default iPhone alarm is the worst sound in the world
Have you ever been caught off guard by that hideous ‘Radar’ alarm? The default one used by Apple? I don’t even mean first thing in the morning. Sitting with my housemates, having lunch the other week, the piercing alarm sporadically went off. My body physically shook...
Loved Ones
Nightlight
Tackling the summer slumber
We’ve all been there. Tossing and turning in bed, late at night with no sheet, sweating through hot June and July summer nights. Unfortunately, us Brits aren’t blessed by air con or cool houses most of the time, so these sweltering nights can really get to us. Doze...
The sleep menu
A growing body of research shows that what we eat can affect how well we sleep, and how we sleep can affect the menu we choose. We spoke to nutritionist and naturopath Oliver Sanchez to learn which foods support better sleep and which might keep us up at night. Deep...
The first night effect
Even in the comfiest of beds, the first night somewhere new often leaves us tossing and turning. But why is this, and what can we do to fix it? Whether you’re staying at a friend's house, checking into a hotel, or spending your first night in a new apartment, you're...
Life Stages
Napping: Why is it such a necessity for children?
All parents know fine and well that young children need a daytime nap, but do we know why? For the little ones in our lives, napping is not just a pause from the day’s activities; it’s a fundamental component of their day-to-day life. Leigh Coates Leigh Coates,...
The sleep snatcher of 2010: DS after dark
A tale as old as time: a child stashing their Nintendo DS under their pillow, practically convulsing as a parent edges closer to confiscate the glowing device. The quiet click of buttons, the flicker of Pokémon Platinum or Super Mario Bros lighting up a dark room....
Why won’t my child stop having nightmares?
Jane Teresa Anderson recalls having “lots and lots of nightmares” as a child. “My parents generally told me to just go back to sleep.” The dream therapist and analyst believes that there are other ways to respond when your child has a nightmare. Do children have more...
Specialist Sleepers
Training right includes rest: How sleep fuels growth
When it comes to training, eating right, and getting enough protein, the law is that anyone who is anyone labours the point as if there is no tomorrow. But there’s one crucial part of the muscle-building process that often gets overlooked: sleep. “Yeah, your...
Sleep and stage fright: Surviving drama school
Actor, Luca Rawlinson, a LAMDA Drama School student, shares his literal nightmare situations and tips on getting enough sleep while performing. Actor Luca Rawlinson London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (LAMDA) is one of the UK's most prestigious drama schools....
201 hours awake: The DJ who dared to defy sleep
In the winter of 1959, in the heart of New York’s Times Square, the charismatic 32-year-old Peter Tripp attempted to challenge the limits of human endurance. From inside a glass booth, the DJ remained awake for an outstanding 201 hours and 10 minutes, broadcasting the...
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