Anxiety & Sleep Loss
The Connection between Emotional Stress & Exhaustion
By: Dwight Bain
Sleep deprivation is common in North America and one of the top reasons is from internalized Anxiety. Everyone feels pressure, even small children and when they pressure turns into stress, worry or anxiety it can have devastating effects on our health.
Some people believe they can get away with less sleep yet lack of it can actually make us less productive, even when you feel as though you are getting more done by sleeping less. Sleep deprivation can actually do much more than hurt your productivity. According to a recent report by MSNBC*, When we deprive ourselves of sleep, this can affect both our mental health and our physical health. These are a few possible effects of poor sleep hygiene:
Fatigue, irritability, careless mistake, difficulty concentrating, and slower reaction times which add up to increased stress levels.
One of the biggest concern is the affect lack of sleep has on relationships, performance at work or school, and the ability to really enjoy life. Many studies have been done which reveal that sleep deprivation increases the risk of injury and accidents at work or on the highways. After a few days of sleep deprivation a person’s body undergoes changes similar to “fast-forward” aging, memory loss, metabolism problems (with sugar and hormones), and changes causing poor athletic performance.
If sleep deprivation continues over the long term, it increases the risk of more serious health problems, such as:
- weakened immune system,
- diabetes (because the body cannot process sugar properly)
- depression
- energy loss
- high blood pressure
- obesity
Sleep educators have found needs vary from person to person and from night to night. Some people think they can train their body to require less sleep. However, the most important thing is to establish good sleep rituals and stick to it.
Improving your sleep hygiene can give you more rest for your body, restore mental energy, improve muscle tone and skin appearance. Athletes have been charted running better, and lift more weight when their sleep habits improved.
Remember, in the caring counseling environment of the LifeWorks Group we can help you unpack internal issues that cause anxiety, stress, and depression which often are the primary factors that prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep. Call 407-647-7005 to speak with a counselor now, since we are committed to finding answers that will help make life work better for you.
