The Effects of Sleep on Mental Health

Have you ever had a sleepless night and wondered how that would affect your mental health?

The truth is that a bad night of sleep increases the tendency of negative emotional responses, especially when faced with stress. Additionally, one night of bad sleep can lead to a lack of positive emotions. This means sleep is crucial to feel satisfied and maintain your mental health.

Now you may be asking, why would just one night of bad sleep have such drastic consequences? Well, sleep helps to maintain cognitive function. This means that a lack of sleep can amount to decreased attention, difficulty learning, and poor memory. Sleep is essential to “charge” up your brain, preparing it for another day. One restless night is not a major concern, but a pattern of these nights can be. Studies show that a lack of sleep, or even poor-quality sleep, tends to increase an individual's risk for mental health disorders. Such as disorders like anxiety, depression, or even suicidal ideation. Thankfully, those facing serious risk 

have resources to improve their sleep time and quality.

If you relate to these symptoms, there are many things to consider. One typical cause of insomnia is digital devices, as they may worsen 

your sleep. To avoid this, power off or cover these devices at least an hour before you go to bed. Another cause of insomnia is bodily pain, especially in the neck/back. One way to eliminate this issue is to invest in a pillow that keeps your neck straight and tuck another pillow between your legs to keep stress off your hips and back. Finally, the last cause is heavy foods before bed. These foods should be avoided for at least an hour before bed, as they cause an overload in your digestive system, affecting your sleep.

Remember, while one night of impaired sleep may be unavoidable, you should still prepare for the results the following day. However, a pattern of bad sleep may become serious, leading to serious mental health disorders. If this is relatable to you, there are many resources to improve your sleep quality and quantity. 

“20 Tips to Reduce Your Sleep Problems.” WebMD, www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/ss/slideshow-sleep-tips.

“How Sleep Deprivation Impacts Mental Health.” Columbia University Department of Psychiatry, 16 Mar. 2022, www.columbiapsychiatry.org/news/how-sleep-deprivation-affects-your-mental-health.