Recovering From Sleep Deprivation

Losing sleep has more severe consequences than eyebags or being cranky. Sleep is actually vital to your overall health and wellbeing. If you don’t get 6-8 hours of consistent sleep every day, your body doesn’t have the time to repair and restore itself. And as time goes by, the negative effects of sleep deprivation will begin to show up.

There are many different effects of sleep deprivation, ranging from physical, chemical, to emotional. To truly overcome this problem and re-establish normal sleeping patterns, we need to understand and deal with all these components. Let’s take a look at them now!

Physical

A lack of physical activity may worsen the symptoms of sleep deprivation. It’s easier to fall asleep consistently if you’ve been active throughout the day. Regular exercise and training can counteract the effects of poor sleep.

Even everyday activities, not necessarily exercise, are often enough to prevent your sleep deprivation from worsening. What is important is that you are on your feet throughout the day and not lying in bed. Try to get your energy flowing every day to prevent your sleep deprivation from getting worse!

Chemical

When you lack sleep, it is even more important that you eat healthy.

Good nutrition is the foundation of overall health, which includes sleep, but it may also have more indirect, complex effects. For one, good nutrition helps keep our hormones and pathways balanced, which allows our bodies to regulate sleep more effectively.

So if you find yourself struggling to sleep, try to eat more whole foods, fruits, vegetables, good proteins, and good fats. Avoid consuming too much sugar and carbohydrates because these could tank your immune system.

Emotional

Managing your emotional health does not get any easier if you're not sleeping properly, and at the same time, sleep deprivation can destabilize your mood.

Sleep deprivation can put you in a very vulnerable emotional state. It can cause you to relive old hurts and traumas. The longer you go on without addressing the emotional component of sleep deprivation, the more you put yourself at risk of spiraling downwards and straining your relationships.

Fortunately, there are many ways to mitigate these emotional effects. Try meditating, reconnecting with your faith, praying more consistently, or consulting a psychiatrist—or all of the above. The choice is yours!

Conclusion

Lack of sleep affects many parts of our lives—but that also means there are many solutions. It’s all a matter of knowing how to take care of yourself. At Live Free, we put in extra effort to make sure that you can keep your sleep deprivation in check and continue with your normal way of living, as healthy as possible. If you feel like you need some help getting back to your normal sleeping patterns, please call or email us today and let us know how we can assist you!

Sources:

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/physical-activity-may-counter-negative-health-effects-of-poor-sleep
https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1PAoz6VCGLEUMsHkivfcclzdubWfTiWM_