Modern lifestyle has made depression and anxiety a common issue for many people. Some of us can’t sleep on a few nights and in the morning, that makes us feel tired and groggy.
It also affects our mood, productivity and even more. The image that happening every night. For many people, that is a reality.
A large majority of Americans suffer from chronic sleep disorders. Also, all over the world, a lot of adults between are sharing the same fate. Depression and anxiety are common issues that are often ignored, even when they turn serious.
Characteristics of Sleep Disorders
Stress and Anxiety are often precursors to sleep disorders. Sleep disorders are often characterized abnormal sleep patterns. They affect physical and mental health. These also lead to other complicated problems in the long term.
A common term, insomnia, is often used clinically to describe a person who has trouble falling asleep, and for staying asleep for a prolonged time, and waking up feeling unrefreshed.
Sleep disorders may be caused by other factors like bad schedule, bad habits, and lifestyle choices and that, in the long run, can lead to depression and anxiety.
Understanding Anxiety and Depression
A lot of us fall prey to anxiety and depression without knowing it. With a busy life and stress, a lot of people feel depressed because of various valid reasons, such as abuse, conflict. Death or a loss.
Depression is also caused by some medications and is even influenced by genetics. People usually do not open up about what they think depressed them as a lot presume that it would be either embarrassing or of little importance to others.
If you think that you are suffering from depression, then immediately, seek professional help. Depression is very much real, and it can cause a lot of harm if not taken care of.
Depression and Anxiety go hand in hand. These are mostly caused due to some sort of stress. It could be related to work, relationships, finances, others.
Anxiety is also often caused by medicines, just like depression. Substance abuse is also known to cause anxiety. If you are worrying excessively and you are having difficulty in controlling the worrying, then you should seek medical help.
Prolonged untreated anxiety causes a lot of physical harm, like fatigue, restlessness, and irritability.
Effects of Depression and Anxiety
Prolonged effects of untreated depression and anxiety cause sleeplessness. Besides that, it also causes difficulty in concentrating, muscle tensions, and more. Initially, depression and anxiety are very hard to detect.
These are often confused with normal mental states that will pass. But, as time passes, these states of negativity become heavier and harder to ignore.
Over time, other physical problems may arise. These include reduced appetite, indigestion, and mostly lack of sleep. If untreated, these will lead to diseases like diabetes, increases blood pressure and increased risk of heart failure.
Which Comes First?
Now, depression and anxiety are also caused due to lack of sleep. And then again, depression or anxiety causes lack of sleep. Any one of them can be the precursor.
Researchers have suggested that lack of sleep causes many other complicated mental disorders.
It is pretty much self-explanatory how depression, anxiety, and lack of sleep are closely intertwined and how one causes the other.
So, if one issue arises, the others are likely to be present as causes that those, in turn, will cause further harm. It is a never-ending loop that exponentially degrades both physical and mental health.
Therefore, no matter what comes first, it is important that you get them treated by a professional and more importantly, learn to sleep well.
Sleeping Soundly
Sleeping properly can have profound effects on anxiety and depression. For a good night’s sleep, you can do the following:
- Exercise: It is not just good for physical and mental help, but the physical exercise will get you tired and enable you to fall asleep faster.
- Keep away from screens: Most screens on phones, tablets, computers and TVs emit a blue light that reduces sleep. An hour before getting into bed, try to stay away from these screens as much as possible.
- Listen to music: Soft, calming music can have profound effects on both physical and mental health.
- Meditate: Meditation, if done correctly, can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression and can enable you to sleep better.
Follow all the above mentioned step to get rid of Anxiety and Depression and have a sound sleep.
