The Connection Between Sleep and Mental Health

Mental issues caused by lack of sleep

Unbeknownst to many, there is a correlation between sleep and mental health, and as such, living with a mental health issue can affect how well you sleep. In turn, poor sleep can have a negative impact on your mental status.

See a pattern – or, better yet, a cycle – developing here?

The following list represents the ways in which sleep can be affected by notable psychological wellbeing problems.

What You Should Avoid Before Going to Bed

What You Should Avoid Before Going to Bed

Sure, if someone were to ask you what the number one thing you shouldn’t do before going to bed, you’d probably say “drink coffee” – but there’s much more to this equation of getting a good night’s sleep. Of course, it’s also deeper than simply going to bed at a reasonable time; rather, it’s all about planning your nighttime routine so that you avoid sleep-depriving bad habits.

The Ways Alcohol Affects Sleep and the REM Stage

The Ways Alcohol Affects Sleep and the REM Stage

You should know by now that a good night’s sleep is necessary for our well-being and overall health, but were you aware that consumption of alcohol and drugs can actually impact sleep in negative fashions? Indeed, they can, and in this post we’re going to look at the different ways substances can influence your sleep patterns, right up to and including the arrival at the REM (rapid eye movement)

How Weight Affects Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea

In obese people, fat deposits in the upper respiratory tract make the airway narrow, leading to a decrease in muscle activity in this region and, ultimately, apneic and hypoxic episodes – thus, sleep apnea. These episodes lead to an oxygen decrease in both blood vessels and body tissues, and this decreased oxygenation is a contributor to tissue hypoxia, the primary aggressor of atherosclerosis.

From Awake to REM: Understanding the Stages of Sleep

Sleeping Well

When we’re young, we really don’t think about it too much, but after we’ve put some years behind us and have to catch a good night’s rest in order to function at a job in the adult world, we come to understand the value of sleep. According to research we’ve looked at and analyzed, the average human being spends a third of their life sleeping, and it should come as no surprise that good sleep equates to good health.

How Counseling Can Help with Sleep Habits

How Counseling Can Help with Sleep Habits

As many as a third of American male adults – according to research culled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – aren’t getting enough sleep on a regular basis…and that’s an alarming statistic when you break it down. There are a myriad of possible factors at play here with regard to why someone could be struggling to sleep peacefully, the more common reasons having to do with mental health issues or poor “sleep hygiene.”