Understand Why Restorative Sleep Matters
If you have struggled with sleep for some time, you may have learned how to “deal with” some of the less favorable consequences. In fact, many of our clients believe that chronic fatigue is simply a part of being an adult. This is not true!
There’s a reason your doctor urges you to get enough sleep. Anxiety and sleep disorders have the power to negatively impact your life in a number of ways.
In the short term, you may experience:
- A decreased ability to stay alert
- Greater likelihood of bodily harm due to clumsiness or drowsy driving
- Excessive sleepiness during the daytime
- Reduced quality of life
- Moodiness
- Increased conflict and/or relationship stress
Of course, none of these consequences are acceptable, but they are truly just the tip of the iceberg. If you continue to let restorative sleep elude you, more serious health problems may begin to appear. Long-term sleep deprivation has a proven association with the following issues:
- Lower sex drive
- Reduced immune system function
- Depression
- Obesity
- Stroke
- Heart failure
- Heart attack
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
Chronic sleep deprivation is even known to affect a person’s appearance. Over time, you may begin to notice premature wrinkling and dark circles under your eyes. That’s because it’s believed that lack of sleep leads to an increase in the body’s production of the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol breaks down collagen (the protein that keeps skin smooth,) so it’s possible that those sleepless nights may translate to more wrinkles!
Therapists
These are our therapists who are experienced in working with Sleep Disorders.
