Sleep problems are commonly a sign of mental health conditions like anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder. Not only can they exacerbate the symptoms associated with these disorders, but they may also make them harder to treat and manage effectively.
Recently, researchers published a study in PLOS Medicine which revealed that people with diagnosed mental health conditions experienced poorer sleep quality than the general population. Now, researchers plan to conduct a clinical trial to see if sleep treatment can help these individuals.
1. Sleep Deprivation Increases the Risk of Mental Illness
Sleeping enough is critical for both mental and physical wellbeing. Not getting the recommended amount can have detrimental effects on your mood, memory, and resilience in dealing with illness.
Furthermore, smoking increases your risk for chronic illnesses such as high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus or obesity. Furthermore, smoking disrupts your body’s capacity to manage pain.
Furthermore, stress can make you more susceptible to depression or anxiety. Depression makes it difficult to sleep, and not getting enough shut-eye may lead to more severe episodes of depressive feelings.
Teens who don’t get enough sleep are more prone to becoming angry or impulsive, particularly when depressed. This is because the part of their brain that controls impulsivity–the frontal lobe–is still developing and lack of sleep can rob them of this function.
2. Sleep Problems Are a Symptom of Mental Illness
Sleep problems are more frequent among those suffering from mental health conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety. Not only do these affect how patients feel and function emotionally, but they may also lead to decreased productivity levels as well.
Sleep is essential for your body and brain to perform many essential functions. Without enough shut-eye, these organs cannot do their jobs well.
Sleep-wake cycles can lead to various disorders, such as hypersomnia and narcolepsy – both of which cause excessive daytime sleepiness. Narcolepsy in particular poses a safety risk for drivers due to its effects on concentration levels during driving.
Obstructive sleep apnea can also interrupt sleep and cause you to wake up several times at night. If you suffer from any of these sleeping disorders, it’s essential that they be diagnosed and treated promptly. Your doctor can suggest treatments tailored specifically for you; this could include medications, counseling about sleeping habits or other therapies. Usually though, they’ll refer you on to a specialist who can effectively treat your condition.
3. Sleep Deprivation Increases the Risk of Suicide
Sleep deprivation can have numerous detrimental health consequences. It may affect your cardiovascular system, hormone levels and brain activities; furthermore, it triggers inflammation which makes it harder to fight off illnesses and infections.
Stress can even reduce your sexual drive and fertility. Furthermore, it makes you crave sugary foods that provide a quick energy boost, increasing the likelihood of obesity and heart disease.
Suicide is a grave public health issue and causes an immense loss of life. It has an immense impact on family members, friends, and the broader community.
Evidence is mounting that sleep disruptions may increase the risk of suicide. While some research links sleep issues to depression, other studies reveal a direct connection.
4. Sleep Deprivation Increases the Risk of Anxiety
Sleep is essential for both physical and psychological well-being. It improves memory, lowers stress hormone levels, and strengthens the immune system to fight off illness.
Harvard University researcher Kogan has noted that lack of sleep can also contribute to anxiety. Studies have demonstrated that research indicates sleep deprivation increases cortisol, a stress hormone, which could be an aggravating factor for individuals suffering from anxiety disorders.
People who don’t get enough sleep often suffer from damage to the prefrontal cortex — an area of the brain responsible for reasoning and controlling emotions — in their brain. As a result, when faced with danger it becomes harder to regulate one’s fear response and protect against anxiety.
Researchers discovered that when they compared the anxiety levels of 18 healthy participants after a sleep-deprived night and a normal one, those who reported experiencing strong anticipatory anxiety experienced significant increases.