Your gut may tell you that sleep is important, but do you listen? Or do you just try to power through when you’re tired, and put “getting things done” over a good night’s sleep? Maybe you even try to get enough sleep, but have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. You are certainly not alone, but it can be affecting you in many ways.
Sleep deprivation has become more common since the COVID-19 pandemic started. It affects both physical and mental health, but there are steps you can take to overcome these effects and get more sleep. Your healthcare provider may agree that the Sleep Aid Vitamin Patches by PatchAid can be part of your overall strategy to get adequate sleep. Here is how sleep deprivation can impact mental health, and what you can do about it.
Sleep Deprivation Is Common
Most adults need about 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night, but get less. Insomnia can interfere with sleep by making it harder to fall asleep or stay asleep, and it has become more common since the COVID-19 pandemic started. In fact, a term called “coronasomnia” describes difficulty sleeping due to concerns about coronavirus.
How Sleep Deprivation Impacts Mental Health
Consequences can be severe when you do not get enough sleep. Physical effects can include the following.
- Increased risk for heart disease and diabetes.
- Daytime sleepiness.
- Feeling weak.
Mental health impacts of sleep deprivation are just as dramatic. These are some examples.
- Bad mood. You probably know what this feels like first-hand. When you do not get enough sleep, it is hard to keep a smile on your face. You may be less patient, more frustrated, and more easily angered.
- Lack of focus. You may have trouble focusing on the task at hand or retaining information.
- Trouble coping. Daily stressors that may otherwise be minor may seem impossible to handle when you are tired.
- Anxiety and depression. Sleep deprivation can cause minor to clinically significant symptoms of anxiety or major depressive disorder.
Prioritizing Better Sleep
As a society, we tend to under prioritize sleep. People may feel pressure to get more things done during the day or to stay up late to finish certain tasks. People may feel weak or lazy if they prioritize sleep over work, family, or other obligations, even though getting enough sleep can enable them to perform at their best the next day.
If you are not already making sleep a priority, here are some steps to take.
- Going to bed and getting up at consistent times.
- Being in bed for 7 to 9 hours a night.
- Relaxing before bed without electronic devices.
- Eating healthy and exercising regularly.
- Sticking with decaffeinated coffee in the afternoon and evening.
Sleep Aid Vitamin Patches by PatchAid can support your efforts to get adequate sleep.*
Overcoming Sleep Difficulties
Sometimes, you can continue experiencing insomnia or coronasomnia even despite good sleep habits. In that case, it is critical to talk to a healthcare provider to rule out other conditions and to try to get to sleep more easily.
Your healthcare provider might agree that Sleep Aid Vitamin Patches by PatchAid can support your healthy sleep habits.* They include natural and non habit-forming ingredients for relaxation* and normal sleep cycles.* These are some ingredients in the Sleep Aid Patch for Adults.*
- Melatonin, a natural hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles.
- 5-HTP and L-trytophan, which your brain uses to make neurotransmitters to send signals about sleep and wakefulness.
- Valerian root, which has a tradition of being used for calming the mood.
The Sleep Aid Patch for Kids is free from melatonin. Ingredients include herbals, such as lemon balm, eucalyptus, and chamomile.
It is not stressful to use Sleep Aid Vitamin Patches by PatchAid. Just apply one before bedtime and take it off 8 hours later. Use another patch the next night.
Be good to yourself, your body, and your mind by supporting better sleep. When you are well rested on a nightly basis, you can feel happier and more efficient. Talk to a healthcare provider if you need help or suspect that you may have a sleep disorder, and ask about Sleep Aid Vitamin Patches by PatchAid.
*The Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated these statements. PatchAid patches are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Anyone with a medical condition should seek the advice of a licensed medical practitioner. Individual results may vary.