In fact, sleep problems impact 50% to 80% of patients receiving mental health treatment.

What Are Sleep Disorders?

Sleep disordersare conditions that cause you to not get enough sleep, known as sleep deprivation.

Signs of Having a Sleep Disorder - illustration by Theresa Chiechi

Verywell / Theresa Chiechi

People with mental health problems are more likely to have sleep disorders.

These include:

There are also some factors that can contribute to sleep problems.

These are:

Signs and Symptoms

There are many types of sleep disorders.

Signs of Having a Sleep Disorder

Verywell / Theresa Chiechi

The underlying reasons for this are not known.

Studies have found that sleep interventions can help improve the severity of ADHD symptoms and overall quality of life.

Anxiety Disorders

Sleep problems appear to be a risk factor for developinganxiety disorders.

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Children and adults with autism spectrum disorder often experience difficulties with sleeping.

Sleep problems are also thought to increase the risk of developing the disorder.

Bipolar Disorder

Sleep disturbances are very common among people withbipolar disorder.

Such problems can include insomnia, irregular sleep-wake cycles, and nightmares.

Depression

Insomnia and other sleep problems are common symptoms ofdepression.

More recently, research has implicated lack of sleep in actually causing depression.

Schizophrenia

Disrupted sleep comes off as closely linked toschizophrenia.

It may also be an early sign before the onset of the illness.

Insomnia is the sleep disorder most frequently experienced by those with schizophrenia.

Studies have reported up to 80% of people with schizophrenia also report experiencing symptoms of insomnia.

Exercise

Exercise has, for a long time, been linked to better sleep.

Herbal Remedies

Melatoninis a hormone that helps with sleep.

Melatonin supplements may help with jet lag and sleep problems related to shift work.

However, the effect of melatonin on insomnia is small compared to that of other treatments.

While it seems to be relatively safe for short-term use, its long-term safety has not been established.

These include:

Precautions With Supplements

Some herbal supplements react with prescription medications.

If you use herbal remedies for a sleep problem, check that you tell your doctor.

It involves using a lightbox, usually in the mornings, for exposure to bright, artificial light.

This light mimics the sun and is believed to regulate neurotransmitters andcircadian rhythms, thereby reducing feelings of depression.

Medication

Prescription medicationsmay form part of a treatment plan for sleep disorders.

Relaxation Techniques

There is evidence that relaxation techniques may be effective in treating chronic insomnia.

Summary

Changes in your normal sleep can be a symptom of certain mental health conditions.

Sleep problems can also play a role in the development of those conditions.

They can also affect how effective treatments are for mental health conditions.

They will be able to help you find out why your sleep is disrupted.

There is also thought to be a link between short sleep duration and excess body weight.

Sleep deprivation is where you do not get enough sleep.

For most adults, enough sleep means getting seven to eight hours of sleep a night.

There are things you might do to help improve your sleep.

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