3 Reasons That, I Believe, Sleep Is Important To Your Mental Health

Day 8

(Note - Shhh, can you and I just talk a minute? As you know, these articles are a prelude to my next book on mental health. I am going to continue our conversation for the next three weeks, but I’m taking a slight shift in presentation. You’ll see as, starting today, things will read a bit differently. OK, back to the work at hand. Thanks for your time.) 


Getting a good night’s sleep always helps my health. I just got up from some truly solid rest and sleep. It helps me feel better throughout my body, but it also lets me wake up with a refreshed mental state. I know how important that is when focusing on my mental health.


Well, I presume the same thing is true for you. Not assuming, but presuming. 


Yet I’ll admit that sleeping at a regular time, going to bed at that time, and getting up at a set time hasn’t been effective in my life. I do know that it can be a welcome thing to set up a time and hit the sack. A lot of my professional career has been working at night. You cannot put out a finished morning newspaper at 2 p.m. and have the latest news.


Sleep has been something I’ve struggled with over the years. The stress of life just would slam against me like a crossfire hurricane.


What does a sound sleep look like to you? Everybody is different. Some can get up after five hours and rock and roll; others need 8-10 hours of sleep.


I believe having sound, solid sleep is important to my mental health. Let me share one more story with you.


Lack Of Sleep Can Stir Your Mental Game Into Overdrive


Recently, I went through a period of 10 days where I’d only get 1-2 hours of sleep a night. This has only happened one other time in my life. No matter what I tried, sleep was not happening. So my mind, in its sleep-deprived state, starts bordering on the edge of insanity. It does not cross the state lines but we’re damn close.


There’s this town with people in it who go about doing their regular life. Then there’s this place that plays weird music. And on and on it goes. Just writing a little about it is giving me the creeps. Anyway, my point is that make-believe stuff from the mental faculties all of a sudden takes on a surreal tone.


When your lack of sleep pushes this narrative, then it’s time to get some help. 


Which I did and, thankfully, my sleep patterns have returned to normal conditions.


Yet not having good sleep habits hasn’t helped me at all. That’s why I believe there are three reasons sleep is important to your mental health.


1 Sleep improves as stress level drops with relaxation


Every day seems filled with stress. Family responsibilities, work responsibilities, self responsibilities. They go on and on. But sleep acts as a buffer between that level of stress and good mental health.

 

Lying down and closing your eyes signals the body that it is time to rest. People who can go on a few hours of sleep get my tip of the hat. Personally, I need about 8-9 hours straight of sleep. There are times I wake up in the night and hit the bathroom. But it’s right back to bed at that time.


Too much stress, though, can lead me to start making up stuff in my mind. I’ll take an issue that I have no part in at all and make that into a monologue for the ages. Look out, Jackie Gleason, I’m coming through. (Mr. Gleason will return when I write about laughter and mental health). 


My mind needs to rest. The stress levels have been pushed beyond warp speed at times. Hell, my own messes stress me out. That’s why I believe relaxation is a sure-fire way to kick in the power of sleep. What do you think?


2 Sleep improves with proper nutrition


Eating healthy foods act as a powerful motor for the mind. Fill that body up with greens or vegetables and see what happens. I also know about going to Five Guys and having some pig-out burgers and fries, too. That’s not something I do 4-5 times a week. Occasionally, yeah, I’ll dig in.


But when I do my best to eat better, then I know that my body will appreciate it. 


My nutrition habits still need work and they always can use improvement.


Is there a correlation between eating healthy and a sound night’s sleep? A lot of papers and research offer conflicting thoughts about sleep disorders in general.


From my own experience, good food leads to good sleep. It’s a real pain when you wake up three or four times at night. It’s like I want to wave the white flag and tell the bathroom that it won the war. 


What has been your experience when eating good foods and sleeping? Does it help or hurt you?



3 Sleep improves the emotional state


Emotions need tender, loving care. They are special and very uniquely yours. But ignoring them and denying that they exist with you does not help.


Fear, anger, love, serenity, hate, kindness. We all have these six or shades of them within our emotions. They manifest themselves in many different ways. As much as I’d love you to believe that I am kind and compassionate 100 percent of the time, that’s not true. I don’t want you to see when “Ugly Kid Joe” comes out to play.


When sleep is activated and a good night’s rest follows, my emotions seem to simmer down. The need for starting a war within my mind and emotions goes away. I’m more present at the moment and can focus on what my body is telling me.


I also can connect with the spirit and soul within me, too. Spirituality is an important component of my mental health. Having that and good sleep together set me up for a solid win in life.


Sleep helps in many ways. How do you see sleep helping you? Does your mind need more sleep now than before?



In conclusion, let’s keep our eyes and hearts open for ways that can help us sleep better one night at a time.


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