Good Sleep Supports Mental Health

Good sleep habits (sometimes referred to as “sleep hygiene”) can help you get a better night’s sleep. However, if you are stressed, overworked, anxious, depressed, or suffering from any situation that is affecting your mental health, you might have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep at night. Sleep and mental health are closely connected. Sleep deprivation affects your psychological state and mental health, and those with mental health issues are more likely to have insomnia or other sleep disorders (cdc.gov, 2016).

According to the Sleep Foundation, continuous research is needed to better understand the connections between mental health and sleep, but the evidence to date points to a bidirectional relationship. Mental health disorders tend to make it harder to sleep. At the same time, poor sleep, can be a contributing factor to the initiation and worsening of mental health problems. So, there is strong reason to believe that improving sleep can have a beneficial impact on mental health.

Every individual’s situation is different, and everything suggested to help improve sleep patterns may not work. There will always be a period of trial and error to see what works for you specifically, and hopefully you will find a sleep hygiene practice that is successful!

Tips and tools for improving sleep habits:

1. Seek therapy from a licensed mental health professional. This will allow you to talk through and identify what is troubling you.

2. Having a set bedtime and maintaining a steady sleep schedule.

3. Findings ways to wind-down as part of a standard routine before bedtime (taking a bath, drinking tea, meditating, reading, etc.).

4. Avoid caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol in the evening.

5. Aromatherapy.

6. Exercise regularly.

(These are only a few suggestions to help you find what works for a better night’s sleep!)

If symptoms persist, please visit your primary care physician or psychiatrist who may prescribe medications.

References:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016, July 15). CDC - sleep hygiene tips - sleep and sleep disorders. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved March 7, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/about_sleep/sleep_hygiene.html

Suni , E. (2020, September 18). Mental health and sleep. Sleep Foundation. Retrieved March 7, 2022, from https://www.sleepfoundation.org/mental-health