Have you ever woken up groggy and irritable? You know that you didn’t sleep well last night, and unfortunately, it will impact your mood for the rest of the day. Did your lack of sleep impact your mental health, or did your mental health affect your sleep? Your sleep habits may have more of an impact on your overall health than you think.
Researchers have found that sleep and mental health disorders are more closely connected than most people realize. While both sleep and mental health disorders are complex issues, there is a very strong reason to believe that improved sleep habits can improve mental health.
At Atlanta Center for Mental Health, our experienced mental health professionals, clinicians, and therapists design treatment programs to meet each resident’s specific needs. Learn more about how you can rest and recover at the residential mental health center by calling 833.625.0458.
Mental Health and Sleep Treatment
Every stage of sleep plays a role in the healthy functioning of the mind and body. Getting the right amount of sleep facilitates the brain’s ability to regulate mood and positive thinking. While you sleep, the brain evaluates thoughts and memories and categorizes them for use later. Poor sleep may prohibit the brain from processing information properly. This leads to negative thoughts and behaviors.
It begs the question, “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” Are sleep problems a symptom or cause of mental health issues? While researchers still do not have the answers to these questions, there is a direct connection between mental health and sleep, which can be addressed through sleep therapies, including:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Family therapy
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
Through CBT, residents at Atlanta Center for Mental Health learn to recognize and change the beliefs that affect their ability to sleep. Insomnia, a common sign and symptom of mental health issues, typically revolves around negative thoughts and worries that prevent sleep from occurring. By developing good sleep habits, patients can sleep better and, therefore, improve their mood, boost their energy, and improve their overall health and wellbeing.
Sleep Therapies
During treatment, mental health professionals may use a variety of sleep therapies to address the causes and effects of sleep issues. While some people who suffer may have medical conditions that prevent them from sleeping, the interconnected mental health issues can be treated as a dual diagnosis to resolve both the sleep disturbances and the impact it has on mental health. Some recommended sleep therapies may include:
- Maintaining a sleep diary
- Establishing a bedtime routine and schedule
- Eliminating screen time one hour before bedtime
- Increase exercise
- Restricting naps during the day
- Avoiding or limiting alcohol
- Implementing relaxation techniques
Sleep issues are also commonly associated with other health-related issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and reduced immunity. Treating the underlying issues associated with sleep problems may reduce the effects of mental health issues and the risk of other medical conditions.
Learn More About Sleep Treatment in Georgia
Sleep treatment is an important part of maintaining your mental health and improving overall health and wellbeing. At Atlanta Center for Mental Health, it is common for mental health professionals to address sleep issues as a part of a mental health treatment program.
If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health or is having difficulty sleeping, don’t wait. Help is available right here in Atlanta, Georgia, to get on the road to recovery. Learn more about the customized programs offered to treat your sleep and mental health challenges by reaching out through the online form or by calling an admissions expert at 833.625.0458.
Atlanta Center for Mental Health is a free-standing, non-hospital-setting, residential facility that treats co-occurring mental health disorders along with primary mental health diagnoses. Our goal is to transform your life and put you on the path to wellness and recovery.
