Sleep is so frequently overlooked when therapists are speaking with clients about their mental health concerns, but it is one of the single most important aspects to the quality of one’s well-being. Even someone who is doing great in life and is very fulfilled and happy will feel rotten when having a sleep deficiency. If someone is really struggling with something challenging like grief, trauma, depression or anxiety, a sleep issue only worsens the condition and one’s capacity for dealing with it. Unfortunately, there is often effect of these mental issues on our sleep, which causes a chicken-or-the-egg relationship. Establishing good sleep hygiene habits is a crucial aspect to mental wellness and recovery and reduces the chances that times of stress or challenge will disrupt our sleep. There are many actions that can be taken throughout our days to improve our sleep quality like reducing caffeine intake, increasing exercise, monitoring our sugar and carb intake, and stress management. Nighttime routines can help our brains prepare for sleep and encourage the natural melatonin production in our bodies that help signal that it’s time for our brain to rest. If sleeplessness arises, there is a variety of ideal ways to train the brain to stop nighttime ruminations and tossing and turning and re-orient the mind towards restfulness. Improving sleep hygiene is one of the best ways to improve our resilience and capacity for coping, so don’t delay in attending to this crucial life function if you feel it needs improvement!
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