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Almost all aspects of your health benefit from a good night’s sleep,and lack of good sleep can make your health worse. This goes double for your mental health, which, in turn, can affect your sleep. In fact, sleep changes can signal an upcoming mood episode, such as those caused by bipolar disorder, well in advance.
At 2nd Chance Treatment Center, with practice locations in Phoenix and Litchfield Park, Arizona, our team of board-certified psychiatrists offers outpatient treatment for patients with a broad range of mental health and mood disorders, including bipolar disorder treatment.
Sleep abnormalities and mood disorders
Mood disorders have one thing in common — abnormalities in sleep patterns. One specific “chronotype” that stands out is people who prefer evening and night activities to morning activities. These “late chronotype” groups are more likely to develop mood disorders.
For those with an existing mood disorder, sleep duration is strongly associated with depression and/or mania. For patients with bipolar disorder, sleep duration typically increases during depression and decreases during mania. Mood disorder patients are also greatly affected by the seasons, with sleep habits changing along with their mood.
Lack of sleep can lead to emotional upheaval
Sleep loss has consistently been associated with irritability and emotional volatility, and even aggression. Mood changes can make you feel like the slightest challenge or disruption during the day is an insurmountable obstacle.
It’s not just the amount of sleep you’re getting or not getting. The quality of your sleep matters, too. If you’re dealing with sleep disturbances, difficulty falling asleep, trouble falling back asleep, or even health issues like sleep apnea, the sleep you’re getting may still cause a sleep deficit.
Anticipating and averting mood episodes
According to one study of mood state changes in patients with bipolar disorder, “The association between disrupted circadian rhythmicity and bipolar mood episodes is well-established, entrenched by the strong association between sleep disturbance and mood episodes.”
The study notes that early signs of a serious mood change are often disregarded or unrecognized. Practicing good sleep hygiene, keeping a sleep diary, and identifying patterns that crop up right before a mood shift can help you anticipate problems and try to head them off.
Good, restful sleep combined with an appropriate medication regimen and therapy can help you avoid mood changes. Your physician helps you find your balance, creating a treatment plan designed specifically for your individual situation.
To learn more about how sleep changes can affect your mood and discuss how to create good sleep habits, call the 2nd Chance Treatment Center location near you, or make an appointment online.