Alester Brown

How Lack of Sleep Impacts Your Mental Health

Struggling to get a good night of sleep is more common than most realize. The stresses of modern life have made it a growing issue only exacerbated by major global events like the pandemic. Things aren't getting better, and that's worrying scientists.

Sleep deprivation does more than cause irritability and sleepiness during the day. It can negatively impact your mental health. Here's how.

Changes in How You Respond to Stressors

Research shows an interesting link between a lack of sleep and emotional responses. When you get enough sleep, your brain is better equipped to handle stressors as they come. While you might still experience those negative emotions, the fallout is much more manageable than the alternative.

Without sleep, your ability to handle stressors decreases. You might become more affected by anxieties, and the usually positive emotions you experience become less prevalent.

Unfortunately, that can lead to a vicious cycle of declining mental health.

Effects on Depression, Anxiety, and Other Psychiatric Disorders

Recent sleep deprivation studies show an alarming effect on those with psychiatric troubles like depression and anxiety. While those issues exist even with sleep, they're more manageable when you get full rest. But if you're running on fumes due to a lack of sleep, you may fall prey to emotional hardships more easily.

Even healthy people without a history of anxiety and depression might start exhibiting symptoms. To make matters worse, negative emotions can keep you up at night, creating a revolving door of trouble that only gets worse the longer you don't sleep.

How Much Sleep Do You Need?

We know a lack of sleep is awful for your mental health, but how much do you need to sleep every night? It all depends on your age.

Believe it or not, children and teens need more sleep than adults. They do best on seven to nine hours of shuteye. However, adults will only need seven. Seniors over the age of 60 may need even less.

Your chronotype can affect your sleep requirements, too. For example, nigh owls and early risers usually need less than those who prefer standard sleeping hours.

Author Resource:-

Alester Brown writes about mental and physical health. She advises people on difficulty sleeping & online sleep programs. You can find her thoughts at sleep health program blog.