October 24th, 2019
A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book.
~ Irish Proverb
Lack of a good night’s sleep impacts everyone. A bad night’s sleep can affect the rest of your day and if you are constantly struggling to get a good night’s sleep, then it may begin to impact your life overall. Sleep apnea is one sleep disorder that could potentially be affecting your sleep. Approximately 3-7% of men and 2-5% of women have sleep apnea, and worldwide, over 100 million people suffer from sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is an issue that causes pauses in breathing throughout the sleep cycle. The most common forms of sleep apnea include; Obstructive sleep apnea, Central sleep apnea, and Complex sleep apnea syndrome. If you snore loudly, feel tired even after a full night's sleep, or experience headaches, you may be experiencing sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea can affect anyone, even children, but certain factors may increase your risk. Some factors include:
Not only does sleep apnea have physical effects, but it also may have an effect on a person's mental health. Research has shown that people with sleep apnea are more likely to experience depression.
Research also shows that people with sleep apnea also experience anxiety, cognitive impairment, and relationship problems. The reduced amount of oxygen at night can alter brain functioning, along with the stress that comes with having a medical condition in general.
People with sleep apnea have abnormally high levels of glutamate and lower levels of GABA. While GABA works as a mood inhibitor (keeping people calm), when glutamate levels are high, the brain is stressed and doesn't work as well (Macey et al., 2016).
If your sleep apnea begins to disrupt your partner’s sleep, it can decrease intimacy, especially if it is severe enough that you have to sleep separately. Disruption in sleep may stop you from entering REM sleep, which is when dreaming occurs. Dreams sometimes can provide the space to process events of your day and encode memories. Mental health professionals also believe that it is the “testing ground for anxiety-inducing scenarios, long-term goals, and everyday interactions.”
Lack of sleep can cause you to be exhausted during the day, consequently, possibly causing you to have less patience, inability to maintain focus, irritability, etc. These symptoms interfere with your daily life activities, therefore impacting your overall mood.
While symptoms of sleep apnea can range from mild to severe, it may be necessary to seek professional help. If you are concerned that you have sleep apnea, seek help from your doctor to determine the best course of treatment so you can get that good night's sleep you’ve been longing for and improve your mood for the better!
At Clarity Clinic, we have highly trained staff who specialize in psychotherapy and psychiatry services. To learn more about how we can support your mental health, call Clarity Clinic at (312) 815-9660 or schedule an appointment today.
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