The Impact Of Sleep On Mental Health & Wellbeing

We sleep approximately a third of our lives, so it’s not surprising that sleep is closely connected to our mental health and overall well-being. Bad sleep or sleep deprivation can lead to depression, anxiety, and other conditions. Sleep is essential to our bodies the same way eating or drinking is. Quality sleep restores our brains and keeps us in good mental and physical health. 

Poor sleep can lead to insomnia, which can impact our mental health problems. So, improving sleep is important and beneficial for our well-being and both mental and physical health. 

How Can Lack of Sleep Affect Our Mental Health?

Sleep is directly connected to our well-being and so is the lack of it linked to a number of health consequences, such as heart disease, diabetes, or mental conditions, like anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. Even though sleep is a complex subject, most of us know what the cause of our lack of sleep is. The first thing you need to make sure is that your bedroom is well-adjusted for sleeping. There shouldn’t be a loud noise and bright light directly in your bedroom during the night. 

Also, make sure your mattress and pillow suit you perfectly. If you have trouble finding the perfect mattress for you, then you can look online and find just the right one for you. You can find mattresses specifically for your way of sleeping. For example, if you prefer to sleep on your back, or on your side, or if you happen to deal with back pains, read more to find the best and most trustworthy reviews before you buy a new mattress. This way, you will avoid wasting money and the wrong mattresses and save yourself stress and time. Instead, you will find the right mattress and have a full night of sleep. 

However, if you still have sleep problems, then it’s best to talk to a doctor. 

Keep Track of Your Sleep

Healthy sleep has an essential impact on our mental health and well-being, so it’s crucial to get a good night of quality sleep in order to improve our health. We can easily fall into the habit of ignoring our needs and sleep. So, to avoid this, it’s best to start tracking your sleep. By tracking your sleep, you can easily analyze your sleep pattern and stages and actually see how you spend each night. By knowing the metrics, you can find out why you’re not feeling rested and what you can do to improve your sleep and let your body heal. 

Impact of Sleep on Specific Mental Health Conditions

Poor and lack of sleep can easily contribute to the development of mental health conditions and impact our well-being. One of the most common mental health conditions connected to sleep are:

• Depression

Sleep problems can be one of the symptoms of depression or can actually cause depression. Some studies have found that improving one’s sleep might lessen the chances of developing depression. People who experience insomnia have higher chances of having depression than people who don’t experience sleep problems. 

• Anxiety

People with anxiety tend to have poor sleep and people with sleep disturbances lead to feel anxiety. This can become a cycle that goes in both directions and can get worse if not treated properly. Those who struggle with poor sleep are more likely to develop an anxiety condition than those who don’t experience poor sleep. One study shows that sleep in children and teenagers between the ages of 9 and 16 can be a predictor of anxiety disorder. 

• Bipolar Disorder

People who have bipolar disorder experience sleep disturbances frequently, like insomnia, nightmares, or irregular sleep cycles. Sleep problems can also contribute to mental health conditions and a person’s overall well-being. Poor sleep can lead to symptoms of hypomania or mania. If you’re experiencing any sleep problems, make sure to talk to a doctor and treat any difficulties you may be having. 

Final Thoughts

It’s important to have quality sleep because it’s directly linked to our mental health and well-being. The side effects of poor sleep can lead to complicated both physical and mental conditions, like anxiety or depression. If you have the right settings, like a comfortable mattress, pillow, curtains, and quiet bedroom, and still are experiencing sleep problems, then they should be addressed early on to protect your health.