#82 - Sleep and ADHD with Dr. Jessica Lunsford-Avery

The Matt Walker Podcast

Matt Walker welcomes Dr. Jessica Lunsford-Avery, an Associate Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University to the podcast today. Dr. Lunsford-Avery, a clinical psychologist, delves into the crucial link between sleep and mental health in children with ADHD. Her groundbreaking research explores how sleep impacts daytime impairment in ADHD, focusing on cognitive behavioral therapies to improve both sleep quality and ADHD symptoms. Their discussion highlights the critical need for better understanding and treatment of sleep problems in managing ADHD, emphasizing the powerful role of sleep in overall mental health.

Dr. Lunsford-Avery shares her journey into sleep research, driven by the insight from families about the significant impact of sleep on mental health conditions. Her work shows that up to 80% of children with ADHD struggle with sleep issues, affecting their ability to fall and stay asleep, leading to inconsistent sleep patterns. She explains how ADHD symptoms can disrupt sleep through both biological and behavioral factors, underlining the importance of addressing sleep problems to enhance cognitive function and overall well-being. This episode provides valuable insights for parents and highlights the potential of behavioral sleep interventions like CBTI to improve sleep and ADHD outcomes.

Please note that Matt is not a medical doctor, and none of the content in this podcast should be considered medical advice in any way, shape, or form, nor prescriptive in any way.

Are sleep troubles keeping you up at night? Matt used to be a skeptic about meditation, but 7 years ago, he tried it using a fantastic meditation app called ‘Calm’, and it transformed his sleep! Now, he meditates for 10 minutes before bedtime every night! He’s also partnered with Calm who have been generous enough to offer his podcast listeners an exclusive 40% discount on their premium subscription! All you have to do is go to calm.com/mattwalker and take advantage of this incredible deal! Head on over now and improve your sleep today!

Another of today’s sponsors is BetterHelp. As someone who understands the deep connection between sleep and mental health, I can't stress enough the importance of taking care of your mind. Therapy is a powerful way to build a strong mental foundation, and BetterHelp makes it easy. With flexible, online sessions, you can fit therapy into your busy schedule. Visit betterhelp.com/MattWalker for 10% off your first month. It's time to invest in your mental health and become the best version of yourself.
The good people at InsideTracker are also one of the sponsors of this week's episode, and they are generously offering a special 25% off any one of their programs for anyone who uses the above link during the time window of this episode. InsideTracker is a personalized biometric platform that analyzes your blood and your DNA to better understand what's happening inside of you and offers suggestions regarding things that you can do to better try and adjust some of those numbers, optimize them, and, as a result, optimize you.

As always, if you have thoughts or feedback you’d like to share, please reach out to Matt on Instagram.