Burnout, Anxiety, and a Nervous System Stuck in “On” Many people have access to time off and still don’t take it. Others technically take vacation but remain tethered to work—checking email, thinking about deadlines, worrying about what they’re missing or what will await them when they return. This is often framed as a motivation problem, a work ethic issue, or a cultural flaw. But from a mental health perspective, something deeper is happening. For many people, rest does no

Aromatherapy is used here as part of an integrated approach to sleep support, alongside nervous-system regulation, behavioral strategies, such as CBT-I and mind–body practices . Sleep, the Nervous System and Scent Sleep begins when the body senses safety. Sleep is best understood as a state that emerges when the nervous system feels settled enough to let go . It isn't a cognitive decision. Before the body can drift into sleep, the nervous system constantly scans the environm

"It's clear our bodies still recognize nature as our home…” Professor Yoshifumi Miyazaki.

Sleep disturbances are one of the most common reasons people seek medical care. Some people struggle to fall asleep, others wake repeatedly during the night, and many wake too early feeling unrefreshed. Over time, poor sleep affects nearly every area of life — concentration, mood, work performance, physical health, and emotional resilience. It can also create anxiety about sleep itself, turning bedtime into a source of stress. Sleep, Anxiety, and Depression Sleep and mental h

Originally posted June 12, 2017. Aromatherapy is an age-old technique involving essentials oils that are beneficial to the mind and the...

Originally posted May 2, 2017. Can insomnia be treated without medication? Are you having trouble sleeping? Are you so tired that it’s ...

Originally posted March 12, 2014. Expectant mothers are worried about sleep deprivation once their little angel arrives. What most of...

Revisiting Attachment Parenting In Part Five of my Infant Sleep Series, I revisit Dr. Sears’ bed-sharing and attachment parenting books as I am today, the mother of a 17-year-old son and a trained and experienced Licensed Professional Counselor. I first read about Dr. Sears' philosophies as a new mother learning how to breast-feed and learning how to parent, so long ago. I approach Dr. Sears’ work with mixed feelings. I deeply respect his cultural contribution to restoring e