Photo by Kinga Cichewicz

Originally Posted On: 4 Ways A Bad Night’s Sleep Can Affect Your Mental Health (alaskasleep.com)

Everyone suffers from mild insomnia at some point in their life. Sometimes, you just can’t get to sleep no matter how hard you try. But, while this is a minor, one-night problem for most, others can experience severe sleep deprivation as a result of their insomnia, and this can have a substantial impact on their mental wellbeing.

Daily Exhaustion 

For adults with careers and families, exhaustion is a part of life that you cannot do much about. However, poor sleep can compound these issues and make it feel like you never have a good night’s rest. Although you might feel like you can get on with it at first, the problems will quickly snowball.

Failing to cope with your exhaustion can affect your mental wellbeing in numerous ways. You can feel foggy-headed, which can affect relationships. You may also feel like you cannot do anything you want to do, which means you miss out on socializing or exercise that can have a mental impact just as much as a physical one.

Irritability 

We’re all irritable from time to time, but a lack of sleep can make this irritability worse. If you are struggling to sleep, you might find yourself snapping at friends, family, or even strangers. The most insignificant things could ruin your day, and you take this out on others.

Finding ways to get a better night’s sleep can solve this, but this is easier said than done. If you’re worried about your behavior impacting others, you need to learn how to catch yourself being irritable and give yourself the chance to calm down. Often, it is an issue that will pass quickly, but only if you’re aware of it.

Stress and Anxiety 

Poor sleep can quickly lead to stress and anxiety. It is understood how stress can affect work performance, especially for jobs that demand you are always on, such as teaching or working in a fast-paced, cut-throat environment.

You won’t be at your best if you do not get enough sleep, and like other mental health issues, this will only worsen over time.

Depression 

Depression is a mental illness that is becoming more understood and more accepted every day. It is often a side effect of other mental health issues, and being unable to sleep will not make things better for you.

Finding treatment for depression can give you a nudge in the right direction, but everyone has different needs. Some people required CBT, whereas others may require medication. What’s more, treatment can be expensive, so you should look for cheap health insurance quotes that cover mental healthcare. This will help you get the treatment you need for your depression without putting too much of a dent in your finances.

Sweet Dreams 

Healthy sleep patterns are as crucial to our daily lives as a balanced diet and good exercise. If you are experiencing trouble sleeping and feel it is drastically affecting your mental health, it is important to get in touch with a sleep professional to identify the reasons for these issues and take steps to overcome them.

it is essential to know that a tired brain will work less efficiently than average, which subsequently leads to emotional disturbances. These may set off a cycle of negativity, all-around distress, and, generally, damage your mental health and overall outlook on life.

Merely sleeping for five hours or more can help solve a number of these problems, so the importance of a regular sleeping pattern cannot be overemphasized.

Many advantages come with regular sleeping and many disadvantages with not doing so. Do you or anyone near you belong to the population of people battling insomnia or the more complex sleep disorders? Your mental health is just as important as your physical health, pay attention to it!

Impaired sleep can seriously affect your quality of life and productivity. Behavioral changes implemented under the guidance of an experienced clinician can improve sleep quality and help you feel more alert and functional on a regular basis. Sleep is a third of your life – make it count!

Alaska Sleep Clinic is the most comprehensive multisite sleep lab in Alaska with clinics in Anchorage, Wasilla, Fairbanks, and Soldotna and we continue to expand our services to those with sleep disorders. Angie Randazzo, Ph.D., is a specialist in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with expertise in sleep disorders. No other CBT sleep specialist provides care in the state of Alaska. She is available to Alaska Sleep Clinic’s patients via telemedicine, through SleepTM.