Sleep is one of the most important things for health and wellness. Unfortunately, there has been a steady decrease in recent years in the amount of sleep Americans get on an average night.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 35% of adults in Indiana report sleeping for less than seven hours a day. Additionally, individuals who reported sleeping less were more likely to report substance abuse and chronic conditions, such as depression (major depressive disorder), heart attack (myocardial infarction), or stroke.
There are several mental health issues associated with sleep deprivation. There also seems to be a consistent link between people who suffer from mental disorders and common sleep disorders.
While many Americans are sleep deprived, chronic sleep issues impact between 50% and 80% of people. Sleep disturbances are significantly more common among people who suffer from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (more commonly known as ADHD), which suggests there could be a connection between sleep and ADHD. This mental health care provider in Highland, Indiana is going to explain more below.
What are the Effects of Poor Sleep?
While most of us have spells of sleeplessness, people who suffer from chronic sleep problems might see significant changes in their behavioral issues and overall mental health. If you notice any of the following changes, you should visit your local mental health care provider in Highland, Indiana:
- Constantly feeling exhausted and run down
- Dozing off in the middle of an important task
- Trouble staying focused
- Irritability
- Abrupt mood swings
- Emotional dysregulation
- Difficulty adjusting to changes
Many of these indications of sleep deprivation are also common symptoms of those diagnosed with ADHD. Distractibility, short attention span, trouble focusing, and lack of motivation are frequently observed in those with ADHD and those who sleep poorly.
Identifying the underlying reason for these changes in mood and behavior can be challenging — and even more so when they often coincide, and the symptoms are so similar. However, it is critical to rule out the possibility of a sleep disorder before seeking diagnoses.
Diagnostic Sleep Tests
Let’s assume an individual exhibits symptoms that are consistent with a sleep problem, ADHD, or other mental health disorders. In that case, your mental health care provider in Highland, Indiana might recommend starting with the less invasive or intensive sleep disorder treatment options.
There are diagnostic tests that can be done to determine if someone is suffering from severe sleep disturbances. If sleep disruption is diagnosed and treatment for these disturbances results in a considerable improvement in the symptom presentation, further diagnosis and treatment can be avoided.
Additionally, cognitive-behavioral therapies for sleep disturbances are helpful independent of whether a person has another mental health problem. As any mental health care provider in Highland, Indiana will agree, good sleep habits can prove to be very helpful for those with ADHD just as much — if not more — than those with a sleep disturbance without a co-occurring mental health condition.
How people respond to cognitive-behavioral therapies for sleep disturbances reveals a great deal about what may be causing the disturbance and whether the dysfunctional behaviors and emotional dysregulation are caused exclusively by sleep disruption or another issue. Other variables such as age, occupation, location, health, and socioeconomic position can also considerably impact an individual’s expected sleeping habits.
Looking for an Affordable Mental Health Care Provider in Highland, Indiana? Contact 219 Health Network.
If you are experiencing sleep disturbances, 219 Health Network has licensed behavioral health professionals on staff who can help. As the top-rated affordable mental health care provider in Highland, Indiana, we go above and beyond to help patients from all socioeconomic backgrounds get the medical attention they need. Our network of providers includes Shawna Grant (MSW, LCSW), Scot West (PMHNP), Jennifer S. Jimenez (DNP, PMNH-BC, FNP-BC), and Mario Robbins (D.O.). Contact us today at (219) 398-9265 to learn how we can help.