We hear it all the time – sleep is vital for good mental health. But have you ever wondered why exactly? We take a brief delve into the correlation between sleep and mental health.
Why Sleep Matters
We know the reasons why sleep is good for our physical body, helping it heal and rest. But why is it so good for our mental health? Well, the answer is complex. Not only can poor sleep patterns create or worsen mental health problems, but poor mental health can, in turn, disrupt your sleep.
Studies have found that not getting enough sleep can cause mood changes, such as an increase in irritability and anxiety, as well as being linked to low mood. It can also affect your behaviour, causing you to act irrationally or impulsively, which can in turn lead to poor decisions, which might affect your mental health. A lack of sleep can also affect how you react to stress, which will make it harder for you to get through the day without feeling overwhelmed.
How to Sleep Better
Despite knowing how good it is for us, many of us simply struggle to sleep. But there are plenty of things that you can do to get a better night’s sleep.Try going for an evening walk and avoid screens, caffeine and nicotine before bed. Try meditating, or even cutting out alcohol. Some people may need over-the-counter medicine, to see their GP or even sleep therapy.
Learning More About Mental Health
There’s so much else you can learn about mental health, which can help both you and those around you. Why not look into mental health training courses Milton Keynes and find out what sort of learning opportunities there are? Providers such as tidaltraining.co.uk/mental-health-training-courses/milton-keynes offer a huge variety of courses such as Mental Health Awareness, OCD Awareness, Professional Boundaries Training, and Trauma Informed Training.
A healthy sleep routine is one of the most important things when it comes to safeguarding your mental health. And because sleep and mental health affect each other, it’s even more important to put the work in.
Leave a Reply