{"id":20207,"date":"2023-01-31T10:52:40","date_gmt":"2023-01-31T15:52:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/?p=20207"},"modified":"2023-03-17T14:33:36","modified_gmt":"2023-03-17T19:33:36","slug":"how-sleep-deprivation-can-affect-your-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/how-sleep-deprivation-can-affect-your-mental-health\/","title":{"rendered":"How Sleep Deprivation Can Affect Your Mental Health"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve ever stayed up all night studying for an exam or caring for a newborn, you are probably familiar with the unpleasant symptoms of sleep deprivation. According to the <\/span>Center for Disease Control and Prevention<\/span><\/a> (CDC), an adult aged 18-60, should get seven or more hours of sleep per night. But many of us are not getting enough.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We all know how lack of sleep can impact us physically. But what about mentally? It turns out, the negative effects are just as significant and the physical ones.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Without sleep, the brain’s <\/span>cognitive and emotional abilities<\/span><\/a> become significantly altered. Sleep deprivation can <\/span>compromise mental performance,<\/span><\/a> making it difficult for us to make decisions, process information or focus on and remember important information.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lack of sleep actually causes physical changes in the brain that are responsible for making you feel crummy. <\/span>Sleep deprivation<\/span><\/a> creates changes in the brain by slowing down the work of neural cells, which can cause mental lapses in memory and visual perception.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Below find some of the most common effects of sleep deprivation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Mood changes<\/h3>\n

Sleep and mood are <\/span>closely related<\/span><\/a>, so it\u2019s no secret that poor or inadequate sleep can leave you feeling exhausted, irritable and generally lousy. After a night with little to no rest you might feel easily frustrated or like you have less control over emotional responses. But the good news is that healthy or adequate sleep can actually enhance well-being and improve your mood.<\/span><\/p>\n

Behavior changes<\/h3>\n

Research<\/span><\/a> shows the connection between sleep deprivation and behavioral changes like increased anger and aggression. Alternately, those who get an adequate amount of sleep each night exhibit fewer emotional outbursts, such as anger, and display fewer aggressive behaviors.<\/span><\/p>\n

Brain Fog<\/h3>\n

Lack of sleep can cause\u201c<\/span>brain fog,<\/span><\/a>\u201d which is defined by a general difficulty concentrating on tasks like focusing, recalling and concentrating. This might look like forgetting where you put your purse or wallet or walking into a room and forgetting why you’re there in the first place.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Stress<\/h3>\n

Feeling stressed can be <\/span>both a cause or a symptom <\/span><\/a>of sleep deprivation. If you\u2019re feeling nervous or stressed about something, it might cause you to lie awake with your mind racing with worry, which might make it difficult to fall asleep or get good quality sleep. Unfortunately this turns into a negative cycle where you end up tossing and turning and feeling more stressed out and anxious as a result.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Psychotic Symptoms<\/h3>\n

Psychotic symptoms<\/span><\/a> develop with increasing time awake, from simple visual\/somatosensory misperceptions to hallucinations and delusions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Impacts on Common Disorders<\/h2>\n

Anxiety<\/h3>\n

Evidence indicates<\/span><\/a> acute sleep deprivation affects can cause increased stress and anxiety. <\/span>Increased anxiety levels<\/span><\/a> have been widely recognized as one of the most difficult consequences of sleep deprivation. What\u2019s especially hard is that anxiety and lack of sleep can feed off of each other: Anxiety can prevent you from falling asleep and then not getting enough sleep can just cause more anxiety.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Depression<\/h3>\n

Research<\/span><\/a> shows there is a strong relationship between sleep deprivation and depression. Having chronic sleep issues can make someone feel hopeless or depressed, which can just get worse over time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Addiction<\/h3>\n

The <\/span>relationship<\/span><\/a> between substance abuse disorders and disturbed sleep is complex. While substance use can cause sleep problems, insomnia and insufficient sleep are risk factors for developing drug and addiction use.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Someone struggling with sleep might turn to alcohol or drugs to help them fall asleep temporarily, and could develop an addiction along the way.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

ADHD<\/h3>\n

Sleep disturbances<\/span><\/a> may be a risk factor for developing ADHD. Symptoms like <\/span>ADHD<\/span><\/a>, inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity could be activated by the inability to fall or stay asleep. Lack of sleep might then exacerbate these very symptoms in the long term.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)<\/h3>\n

Sleep problems<\/span><\/a> are considered a symptom of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Insomnia and nightmares, sometimes caused by PTSD, can contribute to poor sleep.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bipolar disorder<\/h3>\n

Bipolar disorder and sleep disturbance often coexist. Reduced need for sleep is a classic symptom of mania. Insomnia or hypersomnia are common during depressive episodes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tips for managing chronic sleep deprivation<\/h3>\n

The good news is there are some <\/span>small changes <\/span><\/a>you can make to prioritize sleep that will hopefully yield big results.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n