Deep Dive: The truth about sleep deprivation

Welcome back to The Psychology Mama’s — the podcast that holds space for your full emotional spectrum and cheers you on when you finally drink a coffee while it’s still hot.

Today, we’re diving into one of the most universal yet wildly under-discussed parts of early parenthood: sleep deprivation — or more accurately, the full-blown nervous system crisis that comes from being woken up every 90 minutes by a tiny dictator in a Bonds onesie.

We’re talking about how a lack of sleep messes with your brain, your emotions, your sense of self, and sometimes your sanity. We’ll also unpack the mental load of new parenthood — the identity shifts, the rage-crying, the pressure to enjoy every moment while hallucinating from exhaustion.

And of course, we’ll wade into the murky, guilt-soaked waters of the sleep training industry — the conflicting research, the polarising opinions, and why it can feel like everyone’s an expert except the person actually doing the 3am rocking.

This one’s for the parents, the therapists supporting them, and anyone wondering why “just sleep when the baby sleeps” might be the most unhelpful advice of all time.

So, grab a snack, lie down if you can, and let’s get into it.

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Please note: this episode is for informational purposes only and does not replace personalised psychological advice.