Sleep deprivation destroys not only physical health, but mental health as well. It can cause everything from minor irritation to outbursts of temper to full-scale mental illness.
There is a close relationship between depression and sleep deprivation. Those suffering from depression either sleep much longer than normal, perhaps in an effort to escape the things that depress them, or they are unable to sleep, and end up sleep deprived.
However, this can work the other way. A continuous lack of sleep - too few hours for too many nights - can lead to depression.
" Do you find yourself sleeping 12 or 14 hours at a time? Is your husband staying up all night?"ask Bipolar Guides Kimberly Read and Marcia Purse. "If you have been accepting these strange sleep patterns as part of your depression or bipolar disorder, you may be pleased to learn that changing the way you sleep might significantly improve your condition."
Depression Guide Nancy Schimelpfening offer some great tips to beat insomnia and get a restful night of sleep in her article "Gotta Catch Some Zzzzzzzz's!" Cathleen Henning, Guide to Panic and Anxiety Disorders tells us: "Besides the obvious dangers of sleep deprivation, there is the ongoing effect it has on your mental health." She goes on to tell us that if you have an anxiety disorder, you are more likely than the general population to have a sleep problem. Additionally, the lack of sleep may be aggravating your disorder.
According to Dr. Leonard Holmes, Guide to Mental Health Resources, " People diagnosed with depression are five times more likely to have sleep apnea, a breathing-related sleep disorder, than non-depressed people, according to a new study at the Stanford University School."
My next article will deal with stress and how it affects your sleep. In the meantime, please continue to page two and an interview with Dr. Amy Wolson, Sleep Expert.
