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How Sleep Affects Mental Health
Getting enough sleep is something we hear about from a very young age. As a little kid, you constantly stay up to try and fight past your bedtime, but as an adult, that lack of sleep may not be by choice. Not getting enough sleep can have some serious effects on your mental health, including some of the following.
Mood
The most basic way that sleep affects mental health is in your mood. After a restless night, you probably notice that you’re grumpier than usual the next day. This is because when you don’t get enough sleep your brain literally begins to function differently. From the bags under your eyes to your bad attitude, you’ll be different on the inside and out. Sleep directly affects your happiness and energy levels each day.
Mental Illness
Poor sleep is associated with a higher likelihood of mental illness. If you’ve been diagnosed with a mental illness, lack of sleep will make the symptoms worse. Schizophrenics report worsened hallucinations, depressed people feel even more fatigued than usual, and anxious people suffer from worse levels of anxiety throughout the day. As these mental illnesses become worse it can increase your symptoms of insomnia. Sleep deprivation slows the ability for your mental health medications to take effect too, making it nearly impossible to manage the symptoms you feel.
Insomnia
You may think that not getting enough sleep would make you sleep better the next night, but that isn’t the case. Poor sleep actually creates a higher probability of suffering from insomnia due to heightened anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders. Insomnia will reduce your natural ability to process emotions, even if you don’t suffer from other mental illnesses.
Personality Changes
If a sleep-deprived state becomes the norm for you, don’t be surprised when you begin to notice personality changes along with your mental health. A generally happy person can become an angry and irrational person very quickly, all because of sleep deprivation. Your ability to perform at work or school will drop because you’ll be unable to focus on the task in front of you.
Sleep has an effect on every aspect of your mental and physical being. If you’re struggling to get enough sleep, try to make lifestyle changes that promote healthy sleep and set a routine for yourself. A good mattress will also have an impact on how well you’re sleeping. Visit Siesta Sleepworks today to find just the right mattress that will put your right to sleep.
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