APA Blogs
7 Results
Narcolepsy: An Overwhelming Need to Sleep
Fatigue and sleepiness are common, especially among people with mental health conditions. However, narcolepsy is more than just being tired. People with narcolepsy experience periods of an irrepressible need to sleep or lapsing into sleep (“sleep attacks”) multiple times within the same day.
Sleepwalking and Other Parasomnias
Parasomnias are a group of sleep disorders involving abnormal, unpleasant motor, verbal or behavioral events that occur during sleep or sleep transitions. (Singh 2018) Parasomnias include sleep-related disorders, such as sleepwalking, nightmares and sleep terrors. Many of these sleep-related experiences may be just mildly annoying, such as talking in your sleep or a child’s occasional nightmare. But in some cases, these conditions can potentially be very disruptive or disturbing, and they can be treated.
Not Only Amount, But Timing of Sleep Can Be Important for Mental Health
The amount and quality of sleep we get are important to both physical and mental health. Sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances are associated with the onset and worsening of some mental health disorders – including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. A new research review highlights the prevalence of these disturbances in people with mental health disorders and suggests that disturbances in sleep and internal body clocks can trigger or exacerbate mental health issues
Making Sleep a Priority for Mental Well-Being
If you’re looking to make a fresh start with new goals for the new year, don’t forget about sleep. While getting enough sleep did not make the top 9 list for American’s mental health-related New Year’s resolutions in a recent APA poll, it may be one of the best things you can do for your mental health and your overall health.
Treating Sleep Problems May Help Prevent Depression
Sleep problems and depression are closely interconnected and have a bidirectional relationship. In The American Journal of Psychiatry, authors David T. Plante, M.D., Ph.D., with the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, suggests that there is important “opportunity to prevent depressive episodes using evidence-based treatments for insomnia.” Plante highlights several factors contributing to the potential for broad public health impact.Â