Sleep is an important yet often overlooked part of leading a healthy lifestyle. While it’s easy to focus on physical exercise and nutrition when considering wellness, says Tommy Shek, the importance of getting adequate restorative sleep each night should not be underestimated. In fact, getting enough shut-eye can have far more benefits than we realize – from keeping our minds sharp and alert to improving both our mental health and overall well-being. To better understand how sleep affects our mental health, let’s take a look at some of the key ways this biological process can positively (or negatively) impact us emotionally.
How Does Sleep Affect Your Mental Health? Tommy Shek Answers
Sleep is essential to your mental health, says Tommy Shek. Without sufficient sleep, you can experience drastic changes in mood, irritability, and cognitive ability. Studies have found that people who don’t get enough sleep are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, and other serious mental illnesses.
When you don’t get enough sleep, it can have a profoundly negative effect on your brain functions. It impairs judgment and decision-making abilities, as well as your ability to focus and pay attention. It also makes it difficult for the brain to form new memories and process information efficiently. Your overall cognitive performance decreases when you’re tired since the cells in the hippocampus — which is responsible for learning and memory — aren’t able to communicate properly.
Lack of sleep can also lead to increased stress levels which can affect your mental health further. Stress is linked to anxiety, depression, and other psychological problems that may require professional help. When you’re stressed, your body produces more cortisol — a hormone that helps regulate the body’s stress response — leading to greater feelings of anxiety and depression.
It’s also important, as per Tommy Shek, to note that poor sleeping habits can actually be caused by mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. People who suffer from these conditions often report difficulty in falling asleep or staying asleep due to their racing thoughts or worries. It’s essential for those suffering from mental health issues to get adequate amounts of rest in order to help manage their symptoms and feel better.
Research backs up these facts, showing that people who get 7-9 hours of sleep per night are more likely to have better overall well-being than those who don’t. Additionally, it’s important to establish healthy sleeping habits, which means having a regular bedtime and avoiding activities or substances (like caffeine) that can interfere with quality sleep. Creating a calming nighttime routine can also help prepare your body for rest and make it easier to fall asleep. Taking small steps towards better sleep can have a big positive effect on your mental health.
Tommy Shek’s Concluding Thoughts
In conclusion, it’s clear that sleep plays a vital role in your mental health. According to Tommy Shek, without enough rest and proper sleeping habits, you increase the risk of developing mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. So make sure to take care of your mental health by getting adequate amounts of sleep every night!