Our digital A.W.A.K.E. group is now open for new members!
The American Sleep Apnea Association’s local and global A.W.A.K.E. (Alert, Well, And Keeping Energetic) communities have provided live support, information and community for people with sleep disorders and their loved ones since 1990. We have focused especially on sleep apnea, but also reach out to discuss other common sleep disorders, such as insomnia.
However, there are still many places without a local community where folks can meet with others, face to face, to get the support they need.
It is the ASAA’s mission to close that gap by forming new groups as needs demand. However, we have also formed this new digital A.W.A.K.E. Facebook sleep health and support group. Here, members can:
- tell their stories
- ask questions
- seek advice
- share solutions, and
- learn more about sleep disorders
What to expect at the new group
- We focus on regular themes for discussion and a weekly new member shout out (Welcome Wednesday!)
- Our offer of support extends not only to people with diagnosed sleep disorders, but also to people who have undiagnosed sleep problems and their concerned family members, caregivers, and friends.
- Other coordinators of local A.W.A.K.E. groups in cities and regions will also share their news and events for any who may be interested in attending
- We encourage funny sleep-related memes, GIFs and cartoons from our members
- It is our desire to connect members with other members in their singular quests to find relief for sleep health problems
We hope our Facebook will become your go-to place online for all things related to sleep health!
Why join?
Sleep eludes so many of us:
- Up to a full one-third of all Americans do not get the recommended amount of sleep on a night-to-night basis
- 22 million people in the US suffer from a single sleep disorder—sleep apnea. Many of them unaware of this condition, which is dangerous when left untreated
- Nearly half those polled say they snore or have been told that they snore. Bed partners of people who snore also quietly suffer from significant sleep deprivation.
- Driving while drowsy is a significant public health threat, not only for commercial or public transportation workers in every conveyance (automobiles, planes, boats, trains, trucks), but for ordinary citizens as well
- There are strong relationships between poor sleep, depression, anxiety, and suicidal behavior
- Even our children suffer: As obesity rates for our pediatric populations, so do rates for sleep breathing disorders, insomnia, bedwetting, and other problems. Children and teens with developmental or psychiatric concerns are also more likely to suffer poor sleep.
The best reason to join is simple: communities that gather around a shared problem can empower their members to be proactive about finding solutions… in our case, for sleep disorders.
“People helping people” is not only a lyric from a Barbra Streisand song. In the case of our community, it’s a viable pathway to more and better sleep.
What our new Facebook group offers
You will be comforted to know that our admins and moderators are not only members of the executive board of the ASAA. Several are also sleep disorder patients, sleep technologists, patient advocates, or certified clinical sleep health educators. Physicians from several specialties (osteopaths, chiropractors, and naturopaths, in example), and sleep medicine researchers are also part of the membership.
Our goal is to serve online members in the same way A.W.A.K.E. has served local communities by offering:
- reliable support
- healthcare expertise
- a sense of humor
- up-to-date research
- links to relatable articles, essays, blog posts, and websites focused on sleep problems
- opportunities to attend virtual A.W.A.K.E. meetings and listen to speakers (in the future)
- the opportunity to participate in a proactive community, and
- a safe and private place to discuss the sleep challenges that disrupt our lives
How to join the A.W.A.K.E. Sleep Health group in Facebook
This is a closed group, meaning you must request membership. Once you ask to join, you will receive a request to answer some very basic questions about your interest in the group.
Please answer these so we can confirm you as a member. In this way, we can ensure all members are a good fit for this private, productive, and pleasant space for discussions about sleep problems.
We hope you will become part of our community! Remember, you can join even if you don’t have a sleep disorder or issue, but a loved one does. In this way, you can help them overcome the obstacles to solving their sleep problems.
The admins and moderators look forward to friendly chatter and information sharing at the group. Working together to gather support, solutions, and smart tips for better sleep is what this group is all about.
Feel free to let your friends know about this group as well; the more, the merrier!
See you there!’
