Are you getting enough sleep?

Not getting enough sleep causes negative symptoms and it’s possible you are not aware your bedtime habits are part of the problem. Symptoms of poor sleep are not as easy to spot as you might think. In other words, it’s not just feeling tired that lets us know we haven’t been sleeping enough. While it is normal to have trouble sleeping from time to, this should not be the norm. Disrupted rest during stressful times, whether positive or negative, is normal. However, continued poor habits over extended lengths of time can result in physical, mental, and/or social issues.

Listed below are a few of the changes you might see if you are not getting enough sleep. If you are experiencing these symptoms, I encourage you to improve your sleeping routine. If the symptoms persist, see your medical or mental health provider for an evaluation.

Mood

Decreased, poor or inadequate slumber can cause mood disturbances. Symptoms such as a short temper, increased irritation, poor patience or tolerance of others, and getting annoyed with yourself. Additionally, a low mood can result from a lack of sleep. It’s important, however, to make sure the low mood is caused by the lack of sleep and not the other way around as is common to many mental health issues.

Appetite

Not getting enough sleep can actually change your appetite causing you to eat more and thus gain weight. This is the body’s attempt to increase its energy levels through food sources such as sweets and junk foods. Another reason is fluctuation in hormones that lead to weight gain caused by too little sleep. Interestingly, decreased amounts over time can result in weight gain even if there is no change in appetite.

Mistakes

A brain and body functioning on too little sleep results in increased mistakes. If you are more forgetful, having trouble understanding others, dropping things, and making errors, poor sleep may be the cause. When you do not get adequate rest, work and normal everyday tasks become difficult to manage.