GXJ Replay: Can Faith Help You Sleep? Midlife Insomnia, Sleep Science, and Theology with Dr. Benjamin Long

Today, we address sleep struggles, especially for the sandwich generation, through a conversation with sleep medicine doctor and seminary student Dr. Benjamin Long, author of Sleep Habits Journal: Practices, Prayers and Devotions to Ease Your Sleepless Nights.   Long explains integrating evidence-based insomnia care (including CBT-I and the SATED sleep health framework) with a Christian worldview, noting research linking religious service attendance to better sleep and religious doubt to worse sleep.   The discussion covers midlife factors such as perimenopause, hot flashes, hormone therapy options, and increasing sleep apnea risk with age, including underdiagnosis and subtler symptoms in women.   Long shares “sleepless night rules” (cease before bed, get out of bed if awake, connect with God, repeat, avoid sleeping in/naps), emphasizes prayer and the Daily Office, cautions against transactional “just trust more” thinking, and highlights biblical themes of sleep as gift, trust, and God’s presence in sleeplessness.   00:00 Midlife Sleep Struggles 01:16 Meet Dr. Long 02:05 Faith Meets Sleep Medicine 04:00 Science Based Sleep Tools 06:25 Research On Religion Sleep 10:25 Screens Stress And Sleep Stages 12:46 White Noise Myths 13:54 Midlife Changes And Menopause 16:41 Sleep Apnea In Midlife 19:46 Sleep In The Bible 21:24 Sleep as Blessing 22:45 Beloved Sleep Psalm 127 24:44 Trust That Lets You Rest 25:45 Trauma and Nonlinear Sleep 28:35 Sleepless Night Rules 30:01 Prayer and Daily Office 33:53 Insomnia as Spiritual Formation 36:21 Caregiving and Night Retreats 40:48 Jesus Shares Our Sleeplessness 42:05 Where to Find the Journal 43:41 Final Encouragement and Thanks   Links to Dr. Benjamin Long:   https://www.sleephabitsjournal.com/   https://www.instagram.com/thewholeheartedmd?igsh=MXB3cnI2b2hpNDlyYQ==   https://www.tiktok.com/@thewholeheartedmd?_r=1&_t=ZP-94Yav67g3pP   https://benjaminlongmd.substack.com/     **For speaking and event enquiries, please contact Deb at: [email protected]   **Want to be a guest on Gen X Juggler Podcast? Send Deb Foster a message      on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/genxjuggler   Links to Gen X Juggler: https://youtube.com/@genxjuggler?si=GdErb9FBtfInJMTC https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gen-x-juggler-podcast/id1792338965 https://www.facebook.com/share/1CLEHVGu9H/?mibextid=wwXIfr https://www.instagram.com/gen_x_juggler?igsh=MXRvb3hyZDA4b3MzMQ== https://www.tiktok.com/@debfoster88?_t=ZP-8yp0VGqHois&_r=1   **THIS PODCAST IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED PROFESSIONAL ADVICE IN ANY FIELD INCLUDING LEGAL, MEDICAL, FINANCIAL OR MENTAL HEALTH. THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY GUESTS ON THIS PODCAST ARE THEIR OWN AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE HOST AND/OR PRODUCERS.**