By Adrian Zupp
Anyone suffering from a mental disorder is encouraged to eat well, exercise, avoid alcohol, get some sun and get eight hours of sleep each night.
Sleep can either contribute to, or be the result of, a mental disorder, such is its fundamental importance to our brains. But what to do if you have trouble falling or staying asleep? Here are a few ideas.
- Cutting back or quitting alcohol, caffeine and nicotine can improve your sleep as well as your overall health. At the very least, avoid these things before bed.
- Regular aerobic activity can take you to dreamland and into the deep-sleep zone.
- Make your bedroom a quiet and soothing place. Reserve it for sleep and sex only. And toss out the TV and computer – they are not conducive to the Zen environment you need. Also, use heavy curtains or a night mask to really bring on the darkness.
- Deep breathing, meditation and other relaxation techniques can unwind you and get you ready for bed.
- Medications are also an alternative. Speak to your doctor and see if there is a med that will serve the dual role of combating your mental disorder as well as helping you sleep.
As you can see, in mental health many things are intertwined and affect one another. But a thread that goes through much of that fabric is sleep.
For a comprehensive program that will teach you more about healthy and unhealthy sleep habits, a self-assessment, an interactive workbook and more, check out the After Deployment sleep module.
Adrian Zupp is the marketing writer at Screening for Mental Health.
