There is no doubt that your sleeping patterns can have a considerable impact on your mental wellbeing. Not getting enough sleep can alter your daily mood and your motivation.
In this article, we will be diving a little deeper into what we know about harmful sleeping patterns, how they can affect you mentally, and what you can do to help improve your sleep.
Identifying sleeping problems
Sleep is a fundamental part of living a healthy life, but it isn’t as easy as just putting your head to your pillow for some people. Several common sleeping problems are now recognised, and we’ve identified some of the most common experiences:
Insomnia – This is when you find it difficult to sleep, even when you feel tired. Insomnia can be caused by something as simple as background noise but can also be attributed to depression and anxiety.
Poor Mental Health – Panic attacks, depression, stress, and other mental health issues can either impact your ability to get to sleep initially or can make it difficult for you to wake up in the morning.
Inconsistent sleeping patterns – Disturbing your sleeping pattern by napping in the day or the evening can stop you from sleeping when you need it.
Dealing with these sleeping problems and being deprived of sleep can impact your mental health in ways that would probably surprise most people.
Below we have listed some of the issues that could occur from not regularly having the right amount of sleep;
- Loss of concentration
- Irritability
- Impact on relationships
- Paranoia
- Anxiety
- Lack of sleep for some can even lead to thoughts of suicide.
How can you improve your sleep?
Everyone deserves a good night’s sleep, and in many cases, it can help improve the way you feel and think on a daily basis. Sometimes just small changes to your daily habits can help improve your mood.
Here are some top tips that you may want to consider to help you get a better nights sleep:
Exercising more:
It is proven that exercising daily can positively impact your mental health, whether you’re dealing with the stresses of day-to-day life or recovering from a traumatic event. Going on a long walk, jogging through your local park or heading out for a short bike ride can help improve your sleep.
Balanced diet:
Staying hydrated and eating a balanced diet will also have a positive impact on your health. The body requires certain nutrients to function and heal. This change can be as simple as adding more fruit/vegetables to your diet and drinking more water.
Changing your mattress:
Sometimes changing your old mattress can help you improve how you sleep at night. Our friends at Better Beds Company are mattress and bed experts and are well placed to recommend the best mattress to help improve your sleep.
If you’re struggling with your sleep and it’s affecting your daily life, then try some of the above tips and see if they help you.
If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, please contact HOPELINE247 on 0800 068 4141. Alternatively, you can visit (https://www.papyrus-uk.org/get-in-touch/) for more help and support.
