Sleep and mental health are closely linked, and sleep deprivation can worsen mental health conditions. It is very essential that you sleep, but even more essential to sleep on time. During sleep, our brains processes, and consolidates emotions, memories, and experiences, which can influence our mood, stress resilience, and brain function.
Sleep affects our mental health, ever heard of the saying “someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed”? This is usually stated when there is an interaction with someone who just woke up, and is moody. Surprisingly, there is some truth in this statement, lack of sleep can increase crankiness or bad moods. It is not a good sign if you are feeling this way all the time, and you might need some professional help. Especially when you have been lacking sleep for a while, as chronic sleep deprivation can cause a lot of damage to your body. One of the consequences of sleep deprivation is the impact on your mental state, including developing mental disorders such as:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Mood disorders
- Social anxiety
- Poor quality of life
Know that the consequences of sleep deprivation are not exaggerated in any way, because these issues are real. And so many people are suffering from these negative effects, which is why you need to be aware of the importance of sleep.
The link between sleep and mental can be seen in different ways.
What Is The Relationship Between Sleep and Mental Health?
How is mental health related to Sleep? Research has consistently shown that sleep disturbances are a hallmark of various mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Studies suggest that about 80 percent of people who are dealing with mental health conditions, experience sleep problems. Sleep can affect your mental health, and mental state can affect your sleep patterns. Therefore, both need to be well-balanced to maintain a healthy life. However, getting your sleep schedule right can reduce your risk of developing mental health problems.
Sleep and Mood
Your mood is usually a reflection of your mental state, which is why you need to pay attention to your daily mood. Though it is not realistic to expect to be in a good mood ALL the time, frequent bad moods especially unexplained ones are not a good sign. It could be due to lack of sleep, chronic stress, or other health conditions. Sleep plays a crucial role in regulating our emotional state. When you get enough sleep, it helps your brain feel relaxed and energized, like a well-charged battery. However, when you don’t get enough sleep and are sleep-deprived, your brain feels sluggish and tired. Sleep deprivation can cause your brain to get a bit confused and unable to handle emotions as well. Therefore, you’ll be more sensitive to stress and prone to feeling irritable, anxious, and even sad.
Sleep and Mental Health: Stress Resilience
Sleep is essential for developing resilience to stress, while lack of sleep makes you vulnerable to stress, and anxiety. Quality sleep is like a superpower for your mental health. It helps your brain function properly, manage stress levels, and reduce anxiety. Research has shown that sleep deprivation can weaken our ability to cope with stress, which may lead to increased emotional stress and anxiety.
Therefore, daily quality sleep shouldn’t be a debate, because adequate sleep allows your body to repair and restore itself. It is also your cognitive function, which enables you to think clearly and make rational decisions under pressure. So, make the effort to go to bed and get at 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night to increase your stress resilience.
Sleep Disorders and Mental Health
Sleep disorders can disrupt our sleeping patterns, and have a significant impact on our mental stability. Such as
- Insomnia
- Sleep apnea
- Restless leg syndrome
Insomnia, the most common sleep disorder, involves difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or both. On the other hand, sleep apnea is a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, and it often leads to excessive daytime sleepiness. Restless syndrome causes irresistible urges to move the legs, which makes it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep. Studies have found that people with sleep disorders are at increased risk of developing mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety.
In fact, sleep disorders can worsen existing mental health conditions, which is bad. They can create a vicious cycle, where sleep deprivation exacerbates mental health symptoms, and causes sleep disturbances. At the end of the day, you’ll be finding it hard to fall asleep almost every night, which can suck badly. Therefore, effective treatment of sleep deprivation must be taken, to maintain good mental state and reduce the risk of mental health conditions.
Sleep and the Brain
The brain needs enough sleep to function well. During sleep, the brain consolidates memories, processes new information, and clears waste products that can affect cognitive function. This process helps maintain the health and functionality of brain cells, to ensure its optimal performance.
Furthermore, sleep is crucial for emotional regulation. When you don’t get enough sleep, your brain may find it difficult to process and regulate emotions, which could make you easily moody, irritable, or anxious. However, plenty of sleep helps maintain emotional stability and helps you see things in a positive light.
Quality sleep has been linked to improved cognitive function with studies showing that well-rested people display more creativity, problem-solving skills, and better memory.
Takeaway Tips to Improve Your Sleep Quality
Here are some sleep hygiene practices to help you get a good night’s sleep:
- Establish a regular sleep schedule and stick to it
- Create a conducive bedtime routine
- Don’t take caffeinated drinks and alcohol before bedtime
- Avoid watching TV, using electronic devices, or intense activities close to bedtime
- Expose yourself to sunlight during the day
- Get regular exercise, but avoid exercising too close to bedtime
- Don’t eat too much before bedtime
- Make sure your room is dark, quiet, cool and clean
- Sleep on a comfortable mattress
Try these tips out for the next few weeks and see what happens, but if nothing seems to change, see a doctor quickly.
In Conclusion
Sleep is a fundamental pillar of good mental health. Sleep and mental health are closely intertwined, which is why sleep is crucial for maintaining a good state of mind. Getting enough sleep is essential for regulating mood, improving cognitive function, managing stress, and improving overall quality of life. Sleep disorders can significantly impact your mental state, but treating sleep problems can improve mental health outcomes. It should be non-negotiable to get enough sleep every night, so you can reduce your chances of getting mental health issues. That said, if you’re experiencing sleep problems, you must see a doctor immediately to identify the underlying cause and help you know what treatments to take.
