Learn More About Sleep
Most people are aware of the physical and mental health benefits of sleep, but more than one third of Americans are still sleep deprived. Sleep deprivation can result in increased rates of stress, anxiety, and depression, and a lack of sleep is proven to make people more moody, irritable, negative, impulsive, and unfocused.
Below you’ll find a host of articles about the benefits of sleep, the relationship between sleep and certain mental health conditions, sleep disorders, and more.
Featured Sleep Articles
Connection of Sleep to Other Mental Health Issues
OCD & Sleep: Understanding the Connection & How to Cope
OCD and sleep problems are strongly linked. It has been shown that specifically, obsessions and intrusive thoughts contribute to sleep problems more than compulsions do.
Autism & Sleep Issues: Connections & How to Cope
Autistic folks often struggle with sleep problems for a number of reasons. Sensory issues–such as hypersensitivity to touch or sounds–and a lack of melatonin are key factors affecting their quality of sleep. However, there are resources available to help autistic people cope with these difficulties, including both at-home and professional treatments.
Lack of Sleep and Anxiety: Connections & How to Cope
The connection between lack of sleep and anxiety goes in both directions. Research shows that a lack of sleep can cause anxiety disorders to develop in someone who is prone to being anxious, with chronic insomnia being a major risk factor for anxiety disorders. At the same time, worry and anxiety make it more difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Dreams
Stress Dreams: What They Are, Causes, & How to Prevent Them
You wake with your heart racing, having just been chased. Your feet were unable to move because they were suddenly stuck in quicksand. You realize, with a sigh of relief, that it was just a dream. But it wasn’t just any dream- it was a stress dream: a distressing or anxiety provoking dream that occurs during the REM sleep cycle.
Recurring Dreams: 12 Types & What They Mean
Recurring dreams refer to repeated dreams with a similar featured theme, location, or person. They can be enjoyable, distressing—or somewhere in between. There are many different theories about dreams, and no single theory should be considered factual. Recurring dreams may involve unresolved problems that consciously or unconsciously coincide with anxiety, leading those experiencing them to seek relief.
Why Don’t I Dream? 8 Possible Reasons to Consider
It’s believed that most people dream each night. However, there’s far more nuance and variance when it comes to remembering dreams. Some people recall their dreams clearly. Others feel like they never dream at all.1 That said, not dreaming usually has to do with underlying sleep disorders, health conditions, or various medication effects.
More Articles About Sleep
Hypnosis for Sleep: How It Works, Effectiveness, & Examples
Hypnotherapy has been proven to be effective when working with a variety of sleep disorders including insomnia, sleep apnea, and snoring.
Sexual Dreams: Meaning, Types, & What to Do About Them
Having a sex dream is common. Most people have had one, even if they do not admit it. Interestingly, having a sexual dream is not usually about sexual intimacy but often about something else. Wanting a deep or closer connection with the person or adopting a trait or behavior of theirs are common meanings behind these dreams.
Common Nightmares That May Actually Be Warnings
Nightmares are distressing dreams that occur mostly during REM sleep, towards the end of the sleep period, and are memorable upon awakening.
