Sleep has a significant impact on our mental and physical health. You may feel that you sleep pretty good, but also have persistent fatigue, loss of focus, feelings of depression or anxiety, cravings, irritability, or low energy. There is a good chance that improving your sleep quality and length could help with any of these issues. It could be that simple. Sleep is one of those areas of science that is constantly evolving. Modern monitoring technology has helped scientists discover new insights in our brain and body during the sleep cycles.
There are many interventions that are useful and effective for those seeking help with sleep problems. It is actually a pretty common reason why people seek help with a mental health counselor. No two people are the same, so for one person, adjusting one’s sleep environment and schedule might help, while another might be helped from learning how to deeply relax. There are multiple areas to explore for possible sleep issues (biological factors, cognitive factors (racing mind, worry), environmental factors, neurotransmitter (chemical brain signals).
For those that seek help with melatonin, while this seems to be helpful to some people, melatonin is a hormone not a sedative. Melatonin works by helping the body regulate the circadian rhythm of the bodies natural sleep cycle. This is why melatonin can be most helpful for jet lag or getting you back on track after days of sleeplessness. A better natural remedy is to drink a little Valerian tea or take a valerian supplament an hour before sleep time. Valerian increases the levels of a chemical known as gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. GABA contributes to a calming effect in the body.
Below is a short informative video on the sleep cycle. Don’t take your sleep lightly. Compromised sleep can cause a host of mental and physical problems, so if you think you are not sleeping well, do your research or reach out for some help.
