By Vanika
HOW SLEEP AND MENTAL HEALTH ARE INTERLINKED
We are well aware of the fact that sleep plays a vital role in facilitating good physical health as well as mental health. Our brain requires a healthy sleep cycle to help our body and mind work effectively. Along with that, we need to sleep off our day properly to start the next fresh with an apt amount of energy. It's a well-known fact that lack of sleep leads to various health-related problems such as diabetes, heart problems, or premature death. Often sleep problems go away in a short period but prolonged sleep deprivation can be really harmful for your health. Some common sleep-related problems you can be experiencing are-
Insomnia. Someone suffering from insomnia may find it hard to get sleep or stay asleep for a long period. It’s the most common sleep disorder and it's often associated with anxiety, irritability, lack of concentration, forgetfulness, and drowsiness.
Narcolepsy causes a person to sleep at inappropriate times and suddenly. The main reason behind it is the inability of the brain to recognize a sleep and waking pattern. Someone with narcolepsy may find themselves being tired and drowsy all throughout the day. Apart from that, sleep might come without any warning. It can be very dangerous as the person can be engaging in activities such as driving when the episode occurs.
Hypersomnia is the opposite of insomnia. Someone with Hypersomnia may sleep way more than what’s considered appropriate. Hypersomnia is often associated with mental health problems like depression. It can have a significant impact on a person’s daily routine and their health.
Various mental disorders or conditions manifest themselves in the form of an unhealthy sleep cycle. The relationship between mental health and sleep is often interdependent. Some mental health conditions which hurt sleeping patterns are-
- Anxiety
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Depression
- Manic Episodes
- Mood Disorders
Along with that, medications prescribed for them can have side effects such as insomnia or hypersomnia.
WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR SLEEP CYCLE
Sleep is important for your well-being. Therefore, making sure that you have a healthy sleep cycle is something you must do. Some effective ways for doing so can be
- Have a proper, regular bedtime routine. Incorporate unwinding activities into your sleep cycle like listening to calm music or reading to send your brain a signal that it’s time to sleep.
- Make sure you have a peaceful sleeping environment. Disturbing surroundings cannot facilitate a good sleeping pattern.
- Have a scheduled sleep time.
- Avoid alcohol, coffee, or anything with caffeine present in it before bed.
- Try avoiding screens while unwinding before bed.
- Engage in mindful activities like journaling or meditation before bed. It will send calm and relaxing signals to your brain.
If the self-help techniques don’t work out for you and your problem remains persistent for way too long, it’s important to reach out for help. Speak to our physician about it, they can help you find an effective solution. A lot of people struggle with their sleeping patterns every once in a while, so there is nothing to be worried about. What’s more important is to find a way around it.
To know more about how are physical health and mental health interlinked read here
To know more about is lying related to the psychology of a person read here
REFERENCES
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/a-z-topics/sleep-and-mental-health
https://www.verywellmind.com/how-sleep-affects-mental-health-4783067
Tags: #sleep #sleepcycle #mentalhealth #physicalhealth #healthy #sleepdeprived #insomnia #mentalhealthproblems