According to the CDC, about 1 in 3 adults in the United States are not getting enough sleep every day which could lead to sleep deprivation. Sleep is important to the human body, just as eating and breathing are, and the effects of sleep deprivation have consequences that can lead to serious problems for your mental, emotional, and physical health.
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Causes and Symptoms of Sleep Deprivation
Multiple factors can contribute to sleep deprivation including work or school obligations, lifestyle choices, and other medical conditions. For most adults, the amount of sleep needed is 7 to 9 hours a night.
Sleep deprivation includes more than just feeling tired. It also includes:
- Feeling Drowsy
- Trouble Focusing
- Mood Swings
- Lack of Self Control and Judgement
- Reduced Work Memory
- Changes in Weight
What are the Effects of Sleep Deprivation?
The effects of sleep deprivation can be serious and could lead to drowsy driving, mood changes, and struggles in school or work. It can create significant risks to your mental and physical health, including long-term and short-term effects.
Mental Health Disorders
Sleep and mental health are very intricately connected. When you are sleeping, it’s the time for your mind to rest and recharge. When you get enough sleep, your memories and emotions are filed away for your mind to retrieve later. But with sleep deprivation, it can easily impact your mental health and affect you psychologically and mentally. Sleep deprivation can lead to
- Impaired Memory
- Poor Concentration
- Depression and Mood Swings
- Anxiety
- Difficulty Coping with Stress
Physical Health
Sleep also plays a vital role in your physical health. A lack of sleep means that your body has less time to recover at night, which leads to your body’s lowering its defenses against diseases and medical conditions including diabetes, obesity, worsened immune function, and cardiovascular disease. Sleep plays a fundamental role in the functioning of nearly all systems of the body.
Making Lifestyle Changes Through Modern Psychiatry and Wellness
It’s important for you to get enough sleep to be healthy mentally and physically. When sleep deprivation is left untreated, it can affect your job, personal relationships, and goals. The effects of sleep depression can make it difficult to lead a happy life. Making lifestyle changes can help prevent sleep deprivation or even treat it. Some examples of ways to create better habits include keeping a consistent schedule that makes sleep a priority, exercising daily, avoiding caffeine and alcohol, and limiting your usage of technology before bed.
The cumulative effects of sleep deprivation will take a toll on you mentally and physically. For this reason, it is important to acknowledge that insufficient sleep is a problem. If you are feeling depressed, experiencing mood swings, have trouble focusing on tasks, and not getting enough sleep you may have sleep deprivation. If you want to learn more, consider reaching out to Modern Psychiatry and Wellness, our team will work with you to develop an appropriate course of treatment so that you can gain control of your life once again.
