Is lack of sleep having a catastrophic effect on your mood?

Lack of sleep is having a catastrophic impact on the well fare of most adults in the Western World. Rather than being an optional life style choice scientists now say that sleep is a non negotiable, biological necessity that has a profound effect on our emotional and physical health. Sleeplessness has been shown to contribute to various chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and obesity, and not only this but lack of sleep is shown to also greatly contribute to Depression and Anxiety states. Check out “Why We Sleep: The New Science of Sleep and Dream” by Mathew Walker Ph.D. In his book Walker asserts that sleeplessness has been shown to influence the onset, severity and reoccurrence of depressive episodes. We all know that the world can feel like a bleak place even after one night of poor sleep so its understandable that depression can begin to take hold when sleeplessness becomes chronic. If you routinely suffer from lack of sleep then you are at twice the risk of developing depression. Our brain need to sleep in order to process events and to detox during the night hours and we should all get 8 hours sleep a night. If you are one of those people who suffers with low moods and depression then it may be a positive step to review your sleep habits and to improve upon them. There are plenty of great sites out there to check out with some very helpful sleep suggestions but to get you started here are a few tips that I'd like to share with you that I find help me to get a good nights rest.

• Always sleep in complete darkness

• Keep your bedroom for sleeping only

• Don't use electronics within 2 hours of sleep

• Have ample ventilation in your bedroom

• Try to sleep 2 hours before midnight

• Don't eat after 8 pm

• Read something calming right before sleep

• Do a short yoga routine before getting into bed

• Meditate for 10 minutes

• And of course, Self Hypnosis, which I can teach!

Make it your priority to try to achieve 8 hours sleep a night. It will help to lift and stabilize your mood and you will have more energy and less cravings.