Creating a healthy sleep routine is key for feeling both physically and mentally healthy. Mental health issues, such as anxiety, can often be co-related to sleep. Sleep reinforces and helps with the cognitive processes which help decrease instances of anxious feelings.
In today’s hectic world, people are increasingly becoming sleep deprived. This sleep deprivation directly affects mental health and in many cases, increases anxiety levels. Anxiety can make it harder to regulate your emotions, a healthy sleep schedule can help with this.
Ultimately, anxiety and sleep exist in a two-way relationship. Quality sleep helps reduce anxiety, and anxiety can decrease the quality of sleep. For this reason, it can be helpful to explore the various strands that connect the two.
Quaity Sleep Reduces Anxiety
The hormone melatonin is released in your brain while you sleep and helps to reduce anxiety. When you are chronically sleep deprived, your ability to adequately produce melatonin is impared. This affects the ability to reduce anxiety, leading to a cycle of difficulty sleeping and increased anxiety.
Getting a good night’s sleep is essential for maintaining good mental health. Starting a good sleep hygiene schedule can be beneficial for those suffering with high anxiety levels. Eat well, avoid too much caffeine and take time to relax before bed can help you get quality sleep.
Underlying Mental Health Conditions
Besides the anxiety related to a lack of sleep, it can also lead to or worsen mental health conditions. Stress, depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia can all be worsened by a lack of sleep. These conditions can be the underlying cause of anxiety, so getting good sleep can help to mitigate their symptoms.
Maintaining a regular sleep routine is essential for good mental health, this will help to regulate hormone levels and stabilize moods. With the help of a good sleep routine and better understanding of how sleep affects mental health, it can help to treat instances of anxiety.
If you are having difficulty with a consistent sleep routine you can talk to a medical professional for further advice about how to manage your sleep. There are several strategies that can be employed in order to help you get the sleep you need in order to properly manage anxiety.
Trying Different Sleeping Strategies
- Exercise regularly
- Limit caffeine and alcohol
- Avoid screens late at night
- Set regular sleep schedule
- Avoiding naps during the day
- Soothing pre-bed rituals, such as reading a book
Conclusion
Sleep and anxiety are intertwined in a complex manner. A lack of sleep can lead to higher levels of anxiety, just as too much anxiety can lead to difficulty in sleeping well. It is essential to find the balance in order to maintain both physical and mental health. Establishing and sticking with a good sleep routine is beneficial for managing and treating anxiety.