Reclaim Your Sleep: Put Those Tech Toys to Bed With Dr. Tracey Marks

My guest today is Tracey Marks, MD, an Atlanta psychiatrist and psychotherapist, and author of Master Your Sleep: Proven Methods Simplified. Dr. Marks works with professionals who struggle to find balance between life and work -- many of whom have a habit of going to bed with their iPads, laptops, and smart phones. In 2011, Dr. Marks wants to help people understand why trouble with “turning off” – digitally or emotionally – often leads to troubled nights and compromised sleep patterns. Underneath burnout, depression and stress, Dr. Marks often finds that sleep problems are the root of her patients’ problems. Dr. Marks says that reclaiming your sleep in 2011 means putting on-screen distractions, like email, Twitter, Facebook and Farmville, to bed. In this show, Dr. Marks will help burned-out, stressed-out and over-stimulated professionals. While one third of the U.S. population (more than 100 million people) suffers from clinically diagnosed sleep disorders, she says our tech toys are responsible for a new generation of sleep-challenges – even among normally good sleepers. In our interview, Dr. Marks will discuss potential treatments, from herbal and prescription medications to a variety of therapies, explaining the potential risks and benefits related to all treatment methodologies. Dr. Marks obtained her undergraduate degree from Duke University and her medical degree from the University of Florida. She completed her residency training at The New York Presbyterian Hospital, Cornell Medical Center where she served as Chief Resident. Board certified in both General Adult Psychiatry and Forensic Psychiatry, Dr. Marks is a frequent forensic contributor on TruTV’s “InSession.”She is also the founder of the Beyond Burnout Blog (www.BeyondBurnoutBlog.com), where she features videos and articles that help people deal with stress, anxiety, sleep problems, and other life-balance issues.