Sleep is really important; we spend one-third of our lives asleep. It is vital for better mental and physical health.
We recognise this importance at Asana Lodge, so we are exploring all the different aspects of life that sleep is beneficial.
Mental Health
Mental health and sleep are entwined, with mental health issues such as depression and anxiety having insomnia as a symptom.
But sleep and mental health can be a catch-22 situation. As your mental health declines, your sleep pattern will also be affected. But if you have disjointed sleep, your mental health will then decline.
This can be very disheartening, but there are a number of therapies and techniques you can consider to improve both your mental health and sleep pattern. You can do some of these yourself, but others will require professional support.
- Exercise – exercise is very beneficial for your heart health, and on the most basic level, it physically tires you out, so you are more likely to sleep well.
- Mindfulness – mindfulness has been proven to reduce stress, which can be very helpful for mental health.
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy – CBT is a form of psychological talking therapy. There is an abundance of evidence on the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy for mental health conditions.
- Dialectical Behavioural Therapy – DBT is very similar to CBT, but dialectical behavioural therapy differs because CBT helps you change unhelpful behaviours, whereas DBT also focuses on accepting who you are. And it usually involves more group work.
Substance Abuse
There are many reasons why substance abuse affects sleep. Addictions to stimulants will make you physically unable to sleep.
But there is also the environmental and social factors that come with substance abuse disorders. You may stay up all night taking drugs or drinking alcohol, especially if you are a functional addict.
Studies have also shown that people with substance abuse disorders are 5 to 10 times more likely to develop a sleep disorder.
Addiction Recovery
Sleep is particularly important during the early stages of recovery, but similarly to mental health issues, this is the main stage of recovery. You may struggle with a chaotic sleep pattern.
Many people report experiencing sleep issues during the detoxification stage especially. From being unable to get comfortable or suffering from nightmares.
But when you go through a medically assisted detoxification, you can be prescribed medication to alleviate these symptoms, giving you the best chance of long-term recovery and a normal sleep pattern.
General Well Being
Sleep is linked to much more subtle issues that you may experience. The issues previously mentioned can be seen as the extremes. Below, we will explore the more ‘everyday’ ways poor sleep may affect you.
- Weight Gain – Sleep has been linked to weight gain because it not only affects your motivation levels but studies have shown that it can also affect your metabolism and hormone levels. It has also been proven that people with a healthy sleep pattern eat fewer calories.
- Concentration – Similarly to previously stated, a lack of sleep has been proven to affect your motivation levels and concentration seriously.
- Heart Disease and Stroke – There have been many studies that have found you have a greater risk of heart disease and stroke.
Tips To Help You Fall Asleep
If you are one of the 16 million adults who report suffering from sleep issues, then here at Asana Lodge, we have created a flowchart to help you work through the factors stopping you fall asleep.
We also have a sleep quiz to determine if you have or may develop a sleep issue in the future.
