Deep into Sleep Ep202: The Science Behind Sleep: Debunking Myths and Embracing Healthier Sleep Habits with Stephanie Romiszewski
Mar 20, 2025
Stephanie Romiszewski, a behavioral sleep medicine expert and founder of the Sleepy Head Clinic, shares her insights on sleep misconceptions. She debunks the myth that everyone needs eight hours of sleep and explains that longer time in bed can worsen insomnia. Relaxation apps, while popular, do not address the root causes of sleep issues. Stephanie emphasizes the importance of circadian timing over duration for quality sleep and warns against the dangers of misinformation from sleep tech and social media trends.
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Harvard Placement Sparked A Sleep Career
- Stephanie Romiszewski described her placement at Harvard Sleep Labs as a formative, intense introduction to sleep research.
- She performed forced desynchrony protocols and learned circadian timing early in her career.
Chronic Insomnia Is Under-Served
- Stephanie noticed chronic insomnia was common but under-treated in NHS services.
- That gap led her to specialize in behavioral sleep medicine and build clinical services.
Don't Rely On Relaxation As A Cure
- Avoid relying on relaxation apps as a cure for chronic insomnia.
- Use relaxation to reduce anxiety but address core sleep mechanisms with behavioral change.
