Live, laugh, love - while it’s a common theme amongst home decor and a reflection of many important things in our lives, it forgets one important pillar - sleep. After all - according to the latest guidance by leading health authorities, we’ll spend almost a third of our lives in dreamland - and it’s crucial for our physical and mental health.
Insomnia is a condition that affects millions of Americans - however, for many, it’s often something that is put to the side, rather than being addressed. What are the consequences of poor sleep quality, and what does it mean? For many psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner programs, understanding the impact of sleep conditions such as insomnia can be a real eye-opener into the world of mental health - and how our physical well-being is closely correlated with our mental state.
So, take a seat, pull up a good blanket, and let’s dive into the dreamy world of sleep - and ask ourselves, why is it important to get a good night’s rest?
Why is sleep so important?
Computers are awesome machines, right? After all, our phones, long since evolved from the modest brick-sized machines of the 1990s, can do many tasks, such as banking, playing media, and communicating with our loved ones from far away.
The human body is very different from a mobile phone - we can be sluggish when we wake up, it’s hard to be instantly accessible, and most importantly, we take much more time to recharge. Unlike many digital technologies, humans can be frustratingly analog - it can take time for the body to heal from injury and damage from day-to-day living.
Sleep is a critical element of recovery because it allows our bodies time to repair. Think of it like an update cycle on a computer - it helps our bodies recover from injury, allows for the formation of long-term memories, and is good for your health and well-being.
How much sleep do I need?
It can be difficult to get to sleep - and for many of us, it’s not unusual to struggle with restlessness. Maybe you’re counting sheep, listening to a podcast, trying to find a way to get some shut-eye. Then, the question pops out - how much sleep do you need to be well-rested?
As it turns out, there’s been extensive research conducted in the realm of sleep - and it can provide a great idea of how much sleep we need, depending on how old we are. According to data published by the AASM, also known as the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, it’s recommended that an adult gets at least seven hours of sleep per night.
If you’re having trouble sleeping, there are some quick and easy tricks you can follow - for example, going to bed consistently, and having your bedroom set up as a quiet place for rest. These positive habits can help to get a good night’s rest - and can often be a positive step towards improving the quality of your sleep.
Connecting poor sleep and mental health
What are the consequences of poor sleep? While a single night of bad sleep might not be a major issue, ongoing trouble sleeping can have consequences on both your physical and mental health.
It may seem like a common trope to wake up on the wrong side of the bed, however, it’s interesting to note that having poor quality sleep can result in many of the same effects - you may wake up grumpy, easily irritated, perhaps even with a headache or some kind of brain fog.
These changes are symptomatic of poor quality sleep - and in fact, they can be early warning indicators that something much more serious is at play. It’s well documented that poor quality sleeping has a link with mental health - the lack of sleep can cause our bodies to overstress and make conditions such as anxiety worse.
A lack of sleep for an extended period, for example, not sleeping for twenty-four hours or more, can result in serious mental impairments, such as delusions or hallucinations. The link between poor health and mental health is clear - poor sleep can ultimately lead to poor mental health.
It’s important to note that poor sleep doesn’t just have an impact on mental health - it can also have serious impacts on physical health as well. Chronic sleep deprivation, for example, has been linked to an increased risk of serious cardiac conditions, such as heart attack, hypertension, or stroke.
What can we do?
Fortunately, there are many things that we can do to begin to tackle a lack of sleep. It may involve trying to adopt some new habits, perhaps going to bed a little earlier, or putting our phones away before bedtime.
If you’re looking to improve the quality of sleep, consider putting some strategies in place, such as having a set bedtime, or avoiding alcohol before bed. These small steps can make a big difference, and help to improve the quality of rest that you get each night.
If you’re struggling to sleep, organizations such as the Sleep Foundation also have dedicated hotlines that you can use to get more tips and tricks to get a good night's sleep.
Finally, it’s important to understand that having trouble sleeping is a normal part of life - it’s important that if you are struggling to speak, speak up. Sometimes, the first step to getting help is to talk about the issues you’re facing - and hopefully, in the end, you’ll be able to find a solution that helps you sleep better.