Sleeplessness is an indicator of the Mental Health

Sleep is our body’s resting time after a hard day’s work. We need to have a restful sleep to help our bodies recover and heal. Sleep is important not only for physical recovery and rejuvenation but also impacts our mental health. While sleep problems are often regarded as a consequence of poor mental health, clinical evidence indicates that sleep-related problems may lead to mental health issues.

Untreated sleep disorders can increase the risk of developing psychiatric conditions. The most common psychiatric disorders associated with sleep complaints include depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. Sleep disorders frequently co-occur with psychiatric and mental disorders. Sleeplessness can be an indicator of a psychiatric condition or even a cause for it. Treating sleep disorders results in improving co-existing psychiatric conditions and overall quality of life. Studies in neurochemistry suggest that a good night’s sleep can build emotional resilience while chronic sleep deprivation can increase emotional vulnerability.

Correlation between mental illness and sleep

Sleep disorders are often co-existing with many other mental illnesses. People with mental illnesses often complain about their sleep. They wake up feeling tired, fall asleep too late, or have disrupted sleep all through the night. Those suffering from mental illnesses sometimes undergo changes in their sleep architecture and spend more time in the lighter, less restorative stages of sleep and spend less time in the critically important deeper REM stages of sleep. The lack of restorative sleep adds to the suffering of mental illness. Left untreated, sleep disorders linked with mental illness can further complicate a patient’s health situation.

Mental illness and sleep disorders

Watch out for the following sleep-related symptoms of mental health conditions if you are constantly experiencing problems related to sleep.

Anxiety disorder: Anxiety disorder can cause thoughts to race through your mind, making it difficult to sleep.

Depression: Depression can lead to oversleeping — either sleeping late in the morning or sleeping a lot during the day.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): PTSD can cause nightmares and night terrors, disturbing your sleep. This can mean you feel anxious about falling asleep, which could lead to insomnia.

Any kind of psychiatric medication may lead to side effects such as insomnia, disturbed sleep or oversleeping. You may also experience sleep problems after you stop taking psychiatric drugs.

Sleep and mental health lifestyle changes

A combination of lifestyle changes, behavioral strategies, psychotherapy, and drugs can help a person improve their sleep.

Lifestyle changes: Avoid heavy meals in the evening: Eating heavy meals can cause indigestion that can make it harder to sleep. Nutritionists recommend avoiding eating large meals for two to three hours before bedtime.

Wind down: Our body needs time to shift to sleep mode. Engaging in a relaxing activity one hour before sleep (e.g. reading) can help calm the mind and induce sleep.

Try to wake up and sleep at consistent times: Try waking up at the same time every day, including weekends or days off. Our bodies follow a circadian rhythm that relies on consistency. Having a fixed wake time creates a cue for your body on when you should be awake and when you should be asleep.

Relaxation techniques: Meditation, guided imagery, deep breathing exercises, and progressive muscle relaxation can counter anxiety and help to get a restful sleep.

Dozee participates in mental health study

The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) used Dozee to track sleep patterns of patients suffering from mental disorders.

If you need any assistance in perfecting your sleep, our experts at Dozee are eager to help you. We are just a ping away.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Dozee is not a medical device. It is not designed or intended for use in diagnosis, prevention or cure of any disorder or illness.