How Much Sleep Do I Need?
How does sleep affect your focus and attention? (i.e., what's happening in the body/brain that affects focus?)
Sleep plays a crucial role in regulating various functions in our body, including our ability to focus and pay attention.Lack of sleep can have negative impacts on our cognitive abilities, including our ability to focus and pay attention to important information. Poor sleep can be mistaken for ADHD and increase symptoms of depression and anxiety!
Examples:
1. Consolidation of Memories: During sleep, the brain consolidates and organizes memories from the day, which is essential for learning and retaining new information.Without adequate sleep, our ability to form and retain new memories can be impacted, which can affect our ability to focus and pay attention. (This can be mistake for ADHD)
2. Restoration of Brain Function: Sleep helps to restore brain function, including the ability to focus and pay attention. During sleep, the brain clears out toxins and waste products that accumulate during the day, which can impair cognitive function. This restoration of brain function helps to improve our ability to focus and pay attention when we are awake. (This can also be mistake for ADHD)
How can lack of sleep increase stress and other emotional issues?
1. Increased Cortisol Levels: Lack of sleep can lead to increased levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the body. Elevated cortisol levels can make us feel more stressed and anxious, which can affect our emotional well-being. High cortisol from lack of sleep can also lead to weight gain!
2. Reduced Cognitive Function: Sleep is essential for cognitive function, including our ability to regulate our emotions. When we are sleep-deprived, our ability to regulate our emotions can be impaired, which can lead to increased stress and other emotional issues. Again. ADHD. Depression and anxiety
3. Impaired Decision-Making: Lack of sleep can impair our ability to make decisions and solve problems effectively. This can lead to feelings of frustration and anxiety, which can contribute to increased stress. I've seen patients loose their jobs due to having a short temper and being easily frustrated at work
4. Increased Negative Thinking: Sleep deprivation can lead to increased negative thinking, including negative thoughts about ourselves, others, and the world around us. This negative thinking can contribute to increased stress and other emotional issues. ( Poor sleep = increase Depression and anxiety symptoms)
Why does getting enough sleep reduce the risk of accidents and injuries?
This is a common concern. Every year--when we turn the clocks forward an hour--there is a bump
In car accidents and heart attacks--due to only one less hour of sleep!
Why?
1. Improved Alertness: Lack of sleep can lead to drowsiness and reduced alertness, which can increase the risk of accidents and injuries. Getting enough sleep helps to improve alertness and reaction times, reducing the risk of accidents and injuries.
2. Improved Decision-Making: Sleep is essential for cognitive function, including decision-making. When we are sleep-deprived, our ability to make decisions can be impaired, which can increase the risk of accidents and injuries. Getting enough sleep helps to improve decision-making abilities, reducing the risk of accidents and injuries.
3. Reduced Stress: Lack of sleep can increase stress levels, which can impair cognitive function and increase the risk of accidents and injuries. Getting enough sleep helps to reduce stress levels, improving cognitive function and reducing the risk of accidents and injuries.
4. Improved Physical Health: Sleep is essential for physical health, including muscle repair and growth, immune function, and injury recovery. When we are sleep-deprived, our physical health can be impaired, increasing the risk of accidents and injuries. Getting enough sleep helps to improve physical health, reducing the risk of accidents and injuries.
Real life Example: When I was I residency-- we didn't get a lot of sleep. All of my colleagues either got into a car accident or had a close call due to impaired alertness from lack of sleep
What are things you can do during the day to get more sleep?
1. Establish a Sleep Routine: Try to establish a regular sleep routine by going to bed and waking up at the same time each day. This helps to regulate your sleep-wake cycle and improve the quality of your sleep.
2. Exercise Regularly: Regular exercise can help to improve sleep quality by reducing stress levels and increasing feelings of relaxation. Aim to get at least 30 minutes of exercise each day, but avoid exercising close to bedtime as it can be stimulating.
3. Limit Caffeine Intake: Caffeine is a stimulant that can interfere with sleep. Limit your intake of caffeine, especially in the afternoon and evening.
4. Take Breaks: Taking short breaks throughout the day can help to reduce stress levels and improve focus, which can contribute to better sleep at night.
5. Avoid Napping: While napping can provide a quick energy boost, it can also interfere with nighttime sleep. If you do nap, keep it short (less than 30 minutes) and avoid napping late in the day.
6. Practice Relaxation Techniques: Practicing relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga, can help to reduce stress levels and promote feelings of relaxation, which can contribute to better sleep at night. (Think of calm or headspace app. There are also many free guided meditations on YouTube). I personally mediate 15 mins before bed. When I don't-- my sleep is poorer and it takes longer to fall asleep
7. Avoid Screen Time Before Bed: The blue light emitted by electronic devices can interfere with the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep.Avoid screen time for at least an hour before bed to promote better sleep.
Suggestion: at bedtime, put your phone anywhere but your bedroom! Enable features such as downtime--that discourage you to use your phone after a certain time of day.
Most adults need about 7 hours of sleep a night. Are there certain scenarios where an adult might need more than 7 hours of sleep, like
sickness or injuries? Why is more sleep needed in these cases?
Yes, Why?
1. Immune System Function: Sleep is essential for the proper functioning of the immune system. During sickness or recovery from an injury, the immune system is working hard to fight off infection or repair damaged tissues. Extra sleep can help to support immune system function, promoting healing and recovery.
Example: less than 6 hours of sleep over multiple nights temporarily weakens a persons an immune system. This will mean that if they are exposed to a virus or bacteria--they are much more likely to get sick with symptoma rather than quickly fight it off and never realize they were exposed!
2. Tissue Repair: Sleep is also essential for tissue repair and growth. During sickness or recovery from an injury, the body needs extra time to repair damaged tissues and restore normal function. Extra sleep can help to support tissue repair and growth, promoting healing and recovery.
Real life Example: I treat a lot do athletes--if you are working on building muscle i the gym or are an athlete-- you are tearing your muscle. To repair them and make them stronger--you need to sleep a lot. More than 8 hours or your time at gym will be a waste!
At Integrative Psych, we are your premier destination for integrative and evidence-based therapy in New York City. Our team of experienced and compassionate therapists specializes in a wide range of mental health services, tailored to meet your unique needs. Whether you are seeking assistance with psychodynamic therapy nyc, bipolar disorder nyc, high-functioning anxiety nyc, complex PTSD nyc, or any other mental health concerns, we are here to support you on your healing journey.
At Integrative Psych, we firmly believe in the power of mindfulness-based therapy nyc to promote emotional well-being and personal growth. Our therapists are adept at integrating mindfulness-based techniques into their practice to help individuals cultivate present-moment awareness and develop healthier coping mechanisms for stress, anxiety, and other mental health challenges.
