How Poor Sleep Affects Your Mental Health

Lack of enough sleep has a lot of negative effects on the body and can lead to poor mental and physical health. Some go to a point of visiting a psychologist due to the psychological effects of sleep deprivation instructions: anxiety, depression, mood swings, and bipolar disorder.

A human being spends around 25% of their lifetime when sleeping. If the body does not get enough rest, the risk of suffering from fatal conditions such as heart attack, high blood pressure, and diabetes become on the rise.

What can happen?

Hallucinations

Lack of quality sleep can make someone imagine things that are not there. In the process, the body shuts down automatically. Different people react differently to hallucinations. Some start talking to people or objects that exist in their minds but not present in the actual world.

Aggressive people can start fighting for what is not there in the real world while others pass out and sleep. This can lead to someone hurting themselves or other people around them.

Brain

The brain needs time to relax and rejuvenate. This mostly happens during sleep. Lack of sleep can cause memory loss where someone does not remember what they are supposed to do at a given time.

Insomnia also leads to slower thinking and this can affect anyone including school children. This can also destroy brain cells leading to losing sanity.

Immune system

The immune system is controlled by the brain. Where sleep is deprived, the body is unable to fight chronic infections leading to sickness. The body makes antibodies to fight antigens when there is a threat. However, with a lack of sleep, the general functioning is affected.

Irritability

In case your body does not get enough sleep, you become highly emotional and feel easily irritated. The body often balances hormones as one of the metabolic processes. Without enough sleep, some hormones are produced in excess compared to others making one feel highly emotional and irritable.

Frequently asked questions

1. For how long should I sleep?

The rate of sleep in men, women, and children is different. Children should have at least 12 hours of sleep for good growth, efficient brain functioning, and strong immunity. Women on the other hand should have at least 7 hours of sleep and men at least 6 hours of sleep. Above all, ensure your body is well relaxed daily.

1. Can I lose sanity due to lack of sleep?

Yes. Prolonged hours of not sleeping can make one insane. The body will start showing you things and people that are not there. More like living in your world. That is the beginning of sanity. Lack of sleep can be fatal as well.

1. Do daytime naps affect nighttime sleep?

Yes. If you take long naps during the day then you can struggle with sleep at night. However, short naps of around 30 mins to one hour do not affect nighttime sleep as much.

In conclusion, sleep is important to your body. Understanding and soothing your body to sleep could keep you healthy and looking younger. Visit this website to learn more about how to make you sleep better.