We hear constantly how getting a healthy amount of sleep is essential to your mental health. Sleep refreshes your mind and body, so that you’re more resilient and able to face what comes of the day. But for some, sleep doesn’t come so easily.
Sleep disorders can have a disruptive and frustrating impact on your mental health. And vice versa. In some cases, sleep disorders may be caused or exacerbated by other mental health disorders. It may seem like a vicious cycle, but the situation isn’t helpless. You can find mental health support that will help you cope, as well as strategies that can potentially help your sleep.
Are Sleep Disorders Psychological?
The first thing to address is whether sleep disorders are, themselves, a mental health condition. On the one hand, you can easily say yes because they are a condition that severely impacts your mental health. But let’s talk about the source of sleep disorders: is it psychological? The answer is that it depends on the sleep disorder.
Some sleep disorders are neurological, such as:
- Central nervous system hypersomnia
- Central sleep apnea
- Circadian rhythm disorders
- Fatal familial insomnia
- Narcolepsy
- Parasomnias
- REM sleep behavior disorder
These are treated by a neurologist. You may need to take medication to help regulate your sleep or protect you while you sleep.
However, many instances of insomnia may be psychological in nature. In fact, the National Alliance on Mental Illness posits that 50% of insomnia cases are related to depression, anxiety, or psychological stress.1 Additionally, disruptive nightmares and night terrors can be symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These nightmares and night terrors may cause you to avoid sleep or to wake up in the middle of the night. For psychological sleep disorders, it may be more effective to treat the mental illness first and then, failing that, use sleep aids.
How Sleep Disorders Impact Your Mental Health
How To Treat Sleep Disorders
It’s important to make sure you get enough sleep as part of caring for your mental health. But if you have a sleep disorder, that may be easier said than done. If that’s the case, it’s time to seek out treatment.
Speak to Your General Practitioner About Your Sleep Issues
Not sure whether to go to a neurologist or a psychiatrist first? Ask your GP. Your general practitioner is already familiar with you and all of your other health conditions. When you go in for a checkup, tell them the symptoms you might be experiencing in terms of sleep. Even though they are not a neurologist or a psychiatrist, they may be able to recommend where you should start first. They might be able to make a referral for you, as well.
Begin Treatment With Specialist and Provide Feedback
Whether you go to a neurologist or psychiatrist, the next steps will be figuring out a treatment plan and beginning treatment. This may include sleep medication to help regulate your sleep or to regulate symptoms of anxiety or depression. They may also recommend therapy or other methods of treatment.
It will take a while for the effects to be obvious in most cases. You will need to follow up with your specialist to provide feedback on how the treatment is going. If it doesn’t seem to be effective after the suggested waiting period, then you may need to switch to something else.
Talk To a Therapist
Treatment for your sleep disorders might help to alleviate your sleep deprivation. However, you could still be dealing with the mental health symptoms for some time. Even if it’s determined that your sleep disorder is neurological, it might be a good idea to speak with a therapist. They can help you manage the negative impacts on your mental health and figure out coping skills to handle the days when you might be more sensitive than others.
Practice Good Sleep Hygiene
No matter what your treatment plan, it’s a good idea to boost your sleep routine with good sleep hygiene. You might be indulging in habits that unknowingly throw off your sleep schedule. Some good sleep hygiene habits include:
- Sleeping and waking up at the same time every day
- Limiting naps no longer than 45-90 minutes
- Not drinking caffeine after 3pm
- Only using your bed for sleep
- Not snacking past 7pm or only having light snacks
- Meditating before sleeping to clear your mind
- Turning your phone off or setting it down an hour before sleep
- Drinking soothing herbal tea such as chamomile before bed
Sleep disorders can be hazardous for your mental health, but Rivia Mind is here to help. Our skilled and compassionate clinicians can help you form healthy sleeping habits and mental health coping mechanisms. We understand that wellness involves wellness for the whole body, and sleep is essential to that. Contact us today to learn more or to schedule a free 15-minute consultation with one of our providers today.
Resources:
- Sleep Disorders – NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness
- Sleep Deprivation and Deficiency – How Sleep Affects Your Health – National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
