To Sleep, Perchance to Dream: Part 1

Photo by Alexandra Gorn on Unsplash

To Sleep, Perchance to Dream, Part 1

-Hamlet, Shakespeare

You did not sleep well last night. 

You’re a bit more irritable than normal, feeling like you woke up on the wrong side of the bed. You feel more emotional overall. Your brain feels foggy, not quite up to the normal well-oiled machine you would like it be. 

You know you need more sleep. You go to bed early but only end up tossing and turning…. or you wake up all night long counting down the hours until you have to get up for work or school or your kids.
You drink coffee (or energy drinks or sodas) all day long the next day just trying to make it through. Your energy level is in the garbage so you grab some fast food or easily-prepared processed meals to get you through (if not just snacking on that bag of chips you found in the back of the cupboard). 

Any of this sound familiar? 

Sleep is important for so many reasons, as you know if you struggle with sleep. It impacts your ability to regulate your mood and emotions, your behaviors may be different, and your memory may not work as well. You may not learn as easily or even be able to concentrate on what you need to if you’re not sleeping well. Physically, sleep helps your brain remove toxins and strengthen your immune system. 

There are several reasons your sleep may not be quite as restful as you want it to be. Maybe there are some new stressors in your life. Maybe you have an underlying mental health issue. Maybe you have a medical disorder. Maybe you work odd shifts or just got home from a flight from a different time zone. Maybe you’re overstimulating yourself with what you consume (caffeine and electronic devices included).

If you have some stress, mental health concerns, or medical concerns, reach out to the appropriate providers to get the help you need. If some of the other situations apply, you can probably make some changes to improve your sleep patterns. Stay tuned for part 2 for specific things you can focus on in your day-to-day life!

Written by Karalee Landers, PMHNP