Article by:
Dylan Foster
Source: Dylan Foster Freelance Blogger
Tips for a Good Night’s Rest
When You Have Mental Health Concerns
A good night’s sleep is essential for everyone, but it can be challenging to come by when you have mental health concerns. Anxiety, depression, ADHD, and other conditions can impact your sleep significantly. Not getting enough rest can also exacerbate mental health conditions. If you’re having trouble catching Z’s, here are a few tips courtesy of Westman Zone blogger Dylan Foster that might help:
Understand How Mental Health and Sleep Affect Each Other
Mental health and sleep have a symbiotic relationship in that they both rely on each other for optimal function. Mental health concerns can often lead to sleep problems and vice versa.
Mental health concerns and sleep problems can feed off of each other in a vicious cycle. When someone is struggling with mental health issues, they may find it difficult to get to sleep or to stay asleep. This can then lead to fatigue and further mental health decline. Poor sleep can also lead to anxiety and depression, as well as other mental health issues.
It’s essential to seek treatment for both mental health concerns and sleep problems if you’re experiencing either. Treatment for one will often help improve the symptoms of the other. Counselling, medication, and therapy are all options for treating mental health concerns. For sleep problems, there are a variety of treatments available, including behavioural therapies, sleeping medications, and supplements.
Ease Work-Related Stress
If you’re finding it hard to disconnect from work when it’s time to wind down for the evening, try keeping a work diary. At the end of each day, write down everything you need to do tomorrow. This will help ease your mind because you know everything is written down, and you won’t forget anything important. Plus, once you’re done writing it all down, you can forget about work until morning.
Create a Comfortable Environment
Your bedroom should be a haven—a place where you can relax and feel at ease. To encourage healthy sleep, House Beautiful suggests creating an environment that promotes relaxation.
Make sure your bed is comfortable, and your room is dark, quiet, and cool. Remove any electronics from your bedroom, so you’re not tempted to use them before bedtime. And if you need extra help relaxing, consider using an essential oil diffuser with lavender oil to fill the room with a calming scent.
Stick to a Schedule
Consistency is key when it comes to sleep. Healthline recommends going to bed and waking up at the same time each day, even on weekends, so your body gets into a healthy sleep rhythm. Also, avoid napping during the day, so you don’t throw off your natural sleep/wake cycle.
Speaking With Your Doctor
Many things can cause insomnia, so if you’ve been struggling to sleep despite trying different remedies, it might be time to speak with your doctor. Conditions like anxiety, depression, and ADHD can all contribute to difficulty sleeping. Once diagnosed, these conditions can be treated with medication or therapy (or both), which may help improve your quality of sleep.
Practice Other Forms of Self-Care
Sleep is a crucial element of self-care, but practicing other forms of self-care can help improve your sleep quality. Exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, and spend time outside every day; all these things have been shown to boost mental health and promote better sleep habits.
Make sure you schedule some “me time” into your day as well so you can relax and de-stress. Doing so will help prepare your mind for sleep when bedtime rolls around.
Conclusion
Good sleep is essential for good mental health—that much is clear. If you have mental health concerns and suffer from a lack of sleep at night, try to relieve stress, create a comfortable sleep environment, establish a schedule, and foster your self-care. And remember to consult your doctor if nothing seems to be helping.
It might seem like you’ll never get the restful sleep your mind, body, and soul need. But making practical changes to your lifestyle can do wonders for getting you on the right track.
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