Nevin Arora, MD Provides a Thorough Look at the Critical Importance of Sleep – and How to Get It

Good sleep is vital for Lucid Dreaming. Join Andrew and sleep specialist Nevin Arora, MD for a thorough look at the critical importance of sleep – and how to get it. The jury is in: the shorter you sleep, the shorter you live. You don’t snooze, you lose. Dr. Arora shares a host of tips from his clinical practice, including gems about optimal sleep hygiene, how to work with insomnia, as well as the importance of daylight and the damaging effects of artificial light. Falling asleep requires becoming “undone,” and as “human doings” (versus human beings) in these busy times, most of us are never done – and so we struggle with sleep. Sleep is so simple it’s ironically difficult: you only have to do nothing, but you have to do it well. Which is precisely where meditation fits in, because “doing nothing well” defines meditation. The discussion turns to the neural correlates of the dreaming brain, and the future of non-pharmacological aids that entrain sleep states. Nevin offers an honest assessment of the role of sleep aids, including the place of melatonin and prescription drugs, saying that, “Band-aids only cover the problem, and hurt to rip off.” The narrative of “reversing the problem by reversing the relationship to the problem” runs throughout this discussion, and therefore empowers individuals to take control by nurturing an appropriate relationship to sleep problems. This is an informative conversation with a sleep doctor very familiar with lucid dreaming, and offers solid advice on how to get the good sleep that supports it. -- Nevin Arora MD is a board-certified sleep medicine specialist and co-founder of Lucidity Sleep and Psychiatry. He received his medical degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and completed his residency training in psychiatry at Georgetown University Hospital. His fellowship training in sleep medicine was completed at Stanford University Hospital. Dr. Arora’s background in mental health offers a unique perspective on sleep and the treatment of sleep disorders. In addition to his work at Lucidity Sleep & Psychiatry, he works closely with the Dream in Del Mar sleep laboratory, and frequently travels to Stockton, CA to treat patients at Pacific Sleep Disorders Center.