3/4/2025
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Posted by Fidelis Care
in
Caregiver Support,
Health and Wellness
Good sleep is part of a healthy lifestyle. But did you know that there’s a big connection between sleep and emotional well-being? Research and scientific agencies, like the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Institutes of Health agree that sleep and mental health are closely related. Here are some commonly asked questions and answers about sleep:
Q: How does poor sleep affect us?
A: Poor sleep makes it harder to deal with daily stress. When we sleep poorly, we are more likely to feel depressed, anxious, and worried. We may be irritable and short-tempered. It might make it harder to do positive things like take a walk outside, make a healthy meal, or relax with a friend. We may find it harder to sleep well the next night, which continues the harmful pattern.
Q: What is REM?
A: Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep is important for brain health and function. During REM sleep, the brain repairs itself to better manage distressing or fearful memories. REM sleep also balances our emotions and may help with learning and problem-solving. According to some studies, less REM sleep may be linked to a higher risk of developing dementia. Dementia is a condition that makes it hard to remember things and to learn new information. Well-rested people with good REM sleep have more activity in the parts of the brain that let us think before we act.
Q: How much sleep should I get each night?
A: “Good sleep” usually means getting between 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Getting consistent, regular sleep may be even more important than “enough hours” of sleep. For example, 7 hours of consistent sleep may be better than an irregular sleep pattern with 9 hours of sleep per night.
Q: How can I get better sleep?
A: You can improve REM sleep by limiting caffeine, drug, and alcohol consumption. You can also keep your bedroom dark, cool, and quiet. Shut down electronic devices a couple of hours before bed to help ease into sleep.
To be at our best, we need to get enough quality sleep. Remember, an extra hour of sleep can help you more than almost anything else you might do with that hour!
Learn more at the National Sleep Foundation.