THE Northglen News wants you to pick our local neurofeedback practitioner’s brain.
We are, in conjunction with Doug Berry, running a new column in which the Durban North resident and professional counsellor, will answer all your
questions related to training your brain.
If you are having difficulty studying, sleeping, or focusing at school or university or even emotional issues that you are struggling to overcome, then simply Ask Doug.
Email your question to rianettej@dbn.caxton.co.za with Ask Doug in the subject line.
We would love to know who you are, but if you want to remain anonymous, that’s okay, just mention that in your email.
Every week these questions will be printed in the paper and Doug will reply on the Northglen News website at www.northglenews.co.za
This week’s questions are:
Q: Hi Doug. I have noticed that my son, who is in matric this year, tends to study better late at night. We sleep at around 10pm and it’s from then that I find him up the whole night studying. He says it works for him, but I am just worried that in his matric year, it might pose a problem. We read over and over again that one should study consistently. I just want to know if he should rather spread his studying throughout the day?
A: Your average teenager should be getting between 8/9hours sleep per night, in order to best serve their bodies and minds.
Along with that, a healthy diet to help them focus at school, with vitamin supplements if necessary, goes a long way. Often, our high-school teens are so busy with extra-mural activities, that their only real time to study is in the evening. That being said, it is important to make sure that his studying is effective, considering that this is the time when his “biological clock” says he should be asleep.
This can cause a conflict with effective studying. Sleep serves a critical role in our health and well-being and gives our body and mind a chance to rest, allowing it to prepare for the next day. While we are awake, our minds are barraged from input from 5 senses, as well as constantly using thought, logic, creativity, and creating memories. Sleep gives the brain the time it needs to sort out and store information that it has learned, replace chemicals and hormones, and solve problems.
The short answer to your question is that yes, he should probably be studying during the day, but the evening may be the most peaceful time for him to focus without distraction. The effectiveness of his chosen study methods will reflect in his performance at school, but he may sometimes need you (whether he agrees or not) to put a limit on how much time he is staring at his books in comparison to counting sheep!
Q: Dear Doug. I think I suffer with some kind of a sleep disorder. I find myself totally bushed during the day, but the minute I jump into bed it’s like my brain wakes up. I am worried this will affect my university studies. I am also worried about the long term effects of not sleeping properly. What should I do?
A: Hi! This is an interesting one.
Dyssomnia’s (sleep disorders) can be quite varied and are often misidentified. Bad sleeping habits can form so easily these days, with people reverting to studying, working, eating, watching TV or using their media devices in bed. Eventually, the brain learns to associate this place with alertness and work instead of rest. As a result, the brain needs to find rest when it can and works on a lower speed while we are awake. As such, a feeling of lethargy can stick with us all day.
Of course there can be a number of contributing factors that add up to what you are experiencing, such as if you are on any medication or have a high caffeine intake. To answer the second part of your query, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this affecting your studies in a negative manner.
We are usually exposed to learning and new information during the course of the day, when your brain needs to be at full power, along with the rest of your body.
If you can’t focus due to a lack of sleep, it will be difficult to retain what has been learnt at university. If I were you, I would start by looking at what it is that keeps you up at night: bad habits or something more severe. Correctly identifying the problem is half of the battle, so that it can be correctly attended to!
Q: Doug, my son was recently diagnosed with ADD. I find that too many doctors are just too willing to give children like him meds to sort it out. I also think it’s an over-diagnosed disorder. These days it’s like a child who is a little different, maybe more active, outspoken or slow learning is just diagnosed with some attention disorder without hesitation. Can neurofeedback and counselling help such a child without meds?
A: Hi! I completely agree that often we, as a society, are far too quick to diagnose and medicate, before taking into account the unique situation of each child.
Many of our kids are not recognised for their individual idiosyncrasies or educational needs and are simply medicated to take the weight off their support group. Often, concentration difficulty can come from other causes, such as anxiety and depression or even dietary concerns.
There tends to be a lot of superficial diagnosis of disorders such as AD/HD. The process, many report, is often very quick and based on little more than verbal feedback, followed by a life-altering diagnosis and potential for perpetual medication throughout their school-going years.
The repercussions of this can be quite significant! If someone is interested in the medical route, it would be best to have a comprehensive diagnosis done, involving a number of professionals such as educational psychologist and psychiatrists to determine if the meds are really necessary.
Neurofeedback is commonly used to address attentive concerns with kids and is a safe, non-medical intervention that has shown such great results with kids and adults alike. Depending on the individual results of the assessment, a neurofeedback practitioner will be able to tell where the problem lies, neurologically. Thereafter, a treatment plan is suggested and treatment usually begins as soon as possible. Feel free to look up my contact details online and I can explain the process further!
