Feeling sad is an emotion that is common to a human being, for many it is temporary but for others, it just does not go away, this condition is known as depression. Depression affects the quality of life of a person; it changes the appetite, sleep, and almost all aspects of life. There is a cyclic relationship between sleep and mental disorders. Some people have insomnia if they are depressed and for some insomnia leads to depression. But what is irrefutable is the fact that quality sleep has a positive effect on overall health and that is the reason you see a surge in mattress marketing.
Depression can be treated successfully if insomnia is treated first. As per studies conducted on people who were undergoing treatments for cognitive behavior, when the sleep problems were fixed the depression was successfully treated. In essence, getting good quality sleep cured depression.
Depression affects a lot of people around the world and is considered to be the second-costliest to treat. Not only economically, but it is also psychologically costly too as it dramatically affects families and individuals. Fixing sleep issues is the quickest and the cheapest treatment which is quite useful to treat not just insomnia but other symptoms too. So people having depression should incorporate good sleeping habits as there are many benefits.
Tips To Improve Your Sleep
- Have the right mattress: The bedroom should be the place that is a sleep sanctuary. You should clear the area of any distractions, light, and noise so that you can sleep better. Install blinds or curtains in the room which block light. Ensure that you have the best mattress to sleep on, sleeping on it should not leave you with any aches or pains or make you wake up in the middle of the night. If you are unable to sleep, listen to soothing music or read a book. Do not use any gadgets in your bedroom so that you train your brain to associate bed with only sleep.
- Follow a bedtime routine: Calm your mind and do not do any activities that stress you out an hour before bed. Avoid screens as they emit blue light which suppresses the production of melatonin which aids sleep. Instead of watching TV, or checking social media opt to read a book or a magazine that will help you unwind and settle for a good night’s sleep. Have a consistent routine of sleeping and waking at the same time every day. Setting a routine helps in combating laziness as the brain responds to habits. It is essential to have 7 to 8 hours of quality sleep apart from maintaining a fixed bedtime.
If you are a terrible sleeper, it can take a toll on your mental health. It can cause mood swings, and you are unable to remember, think or act clearly. Sleep and depression go hand-in-hand and can affect your mental health. On the contrary, a good night’s sleep on a WakeFit mattress recharges your body, protects you from infections, helps in cognitive functions like better focus and better mood, and improves your overall health. It can also play a significant role in treating depression too.
By Dr. Sarika Apre Nair
