How Does Sleep Affect Mental Health
I'm sure you’re aware that sleep is important and that mental health problems can arise from lack of sleep. In fact, not resting well is one of the worst things for your body and will not only affect you physically but also worsens your mental state.
We all must have enough rest but knowing that we need it doesn’t mean we actually do it. It’s a known fact that a lot of people suffer from insomnia. Or, because they lead a busy life, they don’t have enough hours to do it. Lack of sleep is one of the reasons today’s adults have more cases of burnout, stress, and mental health problems, compared with previous generations.
How do sleep and mental health correlate?
Simulates the effects of ADHD
Studies say that symptoms of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and lack of sleep may be intertwined. It is said that the classic symptoms of a bad night’s sleep (which are difficulty concentrating, scattered thoughts, memory problems, and irritability); are very similar to those of ADHD and there are cases in which the two situations can be confused and a wrong diagnosis may be given.
Hypersensitivity and anxiety
Not sleeping well prevents you from thinking clearly, it also makes your brain perceive some situations as more threatening, and it is believed that this may be due to a process known as an adaptation of evolution. This process comes from a time in which, for humans, not sleeping well could endanger someone’s life.
Vulnerability to depression
Experts say that quality sleep and depression are connected – many people with depression have trouble sleeping and this is considered one of the classic symptoms. But this also works the other way and has been found that not getting enough sleep or not having good quality sleep increases the risk of depression because it affects brain functions.
More stress and difficulty overcoming it
The relationship between sleep and stress is clear, a person who does not sleep well will have less ability to deal with stressful situations when they arise. The problem is that it is a vicious cycle in which stress causes sleep problems, and these problems increase stress, and this also has physical consequences.
Sleep tips
Below are some sleep tips to improve your sleeping, as well as your mental health:
Create a routine. Go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day, this will train your brain.
Sleep in a cool, dark room without distractions (avoid screens).
Meditate, as meditation helps calm the mind so you can sleep better
Do not forget to exercise, which makes you use up energy, reduce stress, and relax your body for the resting phase. Preferably, you should finish the exercise at least an hour before bedtime.
Don’t drink too much water before bed, because the urge to go to the bathroom can wake you up.
Take care of what you eat and when, as it is more difficult to sleep when you are on a full stomach and in the process of digestion.
Don’t use your bed to work, your brain needs to know it’s just for sleep (and other relaxing activities).
Don’t sleep too late. Your body has a circadian rhythm that tells you when to wake up, and you can get out of control if you don’t have a good schedule.
For more mental health tips and advice, don’t hesitate to reach me via the contact page.
