Dr. Matthew Walker
đ€ SpeakerAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
And yes, you could argue from a cynical perspective, it's because we want you, you know, from a capitalist society, we really want you to be doing two things. You're either, you know, producing things, or you're buying things, or you're consuming things. And if you're asleep, you're not doing either of those two. So you could argue conspiracy. I don't think it's that.
And yes, you could argue from a cynical perspective, it's because we want you, you know, from a capitalist society, we really want you to be doing two things. You're either, you know, producing things, or you're buying things, or you're consuming things. And if you're asleep, you're not doing either of those two. So you could argue conspiracy. I don't think it's that.
And I've actually just recently started a public charity, a foundation, specifically designed for global sleep education. Take it a step down. There is the World Health Organization that I spoke to recently. There is no educational module for children translated into 37 different languages across different age ranges that educates them on the importance of sleep.
And I've actually just recently started a public charity, a foundation, specifically designed for global sleep education. Take it a step down. There is the World Health Organization that I spoke to recently. There is no educational module for children translated into 37 different languages across different age ranges that educates them on the importance of sleep.
And I've actually just recently started a public charity, a foundation, specifically designed for global sleep education. Take it a step down. There is the World Health Organization that I spoke to recently. There is no educational module for children translated into 37 different languages across different age ranges that educates them on the importance of sleep.
So no wonder there is a parent to child transmission of sleep neglect. We have to change that too. Some of it is about education. The second part is mental health. We have a rising tide of anxiety in society. People are so stressed and we get people coming into the center at UC Berkeley and they will say, I am so tired. I am just so tired, but I'm so wired that I can't fall asleep.
So no wonder there is a parent to child transmission of sleep neglect. We have to change that too. Some of it is about education. The second part is mental health. We have a rising tide of anxiety in society. People are so stressed and we get people coming into the center at UC Berkeley and they will say, I am so tired. I am just so tired, but I'm so wired that I can't fall asleep.
So no wonder there is a parent to child transmission of sleep neglect. We have to change that too. Some of it is about education. The second part is mental health. We have a rising tide of anxiety in society. People are so stressed and we get people coming into the center at UC Berkeley and they will say, I am so tired. I am just so tired, but I'm so wired that I can't fall asleep.
It's this tired but wired phenomenon. So the anxiety epidemic is causing sleep problems. And that's adrenal too, right? That's the cortisol rise at night. It's cortisol rise at night. It's because of that, what we call the HPA axis, sort of the cortisol descending chain. It's also because the nervous system
It's this tired but wired phenomenon. So the anxiety epidemic is causing sleep problems. And that's adrenal too, right? That's the cortisol rise at night. It's cortisol rise at night. It's because of that, what we call the HPA axis, sort of the cortisol descending chain. It's also because the nervous system
It's this tired but wired phenomenon. So the anxiety epidemic is causing sleep problems. And that's adrenal too, right? That's the cortisol rise at night. It's cortisol rise at night. It's because of that, what we call the HPA axis, sort of the cortisol descending chain. It's also because the nervous system
almost is forced into a locked position of the fight or flight branch, what we call the sympathetic nervous system, which is anything but sympathetic. It's very agitating. And we cannot sleep when we are wired into the fight or flight branch. We have to switch over to the quiescent branch, the parasympathetic.
almost is forced into a locked position of the fight or flight branch, what we call the sympathetic nervous system, which is anything but sympathetic. It's very agitating. And we cannot sleep when we are wired into the fight or flight branch. We have to switch over to the quiescent branch, the parasympathetic.
almost is forced into a locked position of the fight or flight branch, what we call the sympathetic nervous system, which is anything but sympathetic. It's very agitating. And we cannot sleep when we are wired into the fight or flight branch. We have to switch over to the quiescent branch, the parasympathetic.
So I think those two factors, the adrenal sort of nation, as it were, together with this fight or flight stance of the nervous system, is a royal roadblock to good sleep at night. I think it's one of the biggest factors. We've then also got the combative forces of entertainment and social media, which are, of course, consuming the best amount of time.
So I think those two factors, the adrenal sort of nation, as it were, together with this fight or flight stance of the nervous system, is a royal roadblock to good sleep at night. I think it's one of the biggest factors. We've then also got the combative forces of entertainment and social media, which are, of course, consuming the best amount of time.
So I think those two factors, the adrenal sort of nation, as it were, together with this fight or flight stance of the nervous system, is a royal roadblock to good sleep at night. I think it's one of the biggest factors. We've then also got the combative forces of entertainment and social media, which are, of course, consuming the best amount of time.
And it's the worst time because... In this modern era, we're constantly on reception. Very rarely do we do reflection. And the only time we do reflection is when our head hits the pillow. And that is the worst of times to do reflection. Because when you do that, you start to ruminate. When you ruminate, you catastrophize. And when you catastrophize, you're dead in the water for the next two years.
And it's the worst time because... In this modern era, we're constantly on reception. Very rarely do we do reflection. And the only time we do reflection is when our head hits the pillow. And that is the worst of times to do reflection. Because when you do that, you start to ruminate. When you ruminate, you catastrophize. And when you catastrophize, you're dead in the water for the next two years.
And it's the worst time because... In this modern era, we're constantly on reception. Very rarely do we do reflection. And the only time we do reflection is when our head hits the pillow. And that is the worst of times to do reflection. Because when you do that, you start to ruminate. When you ruminate, you catastrophize. And when you catastrophize, you're dead in the water for the next two years.