Have you ever been struck by a lethargic or uncomfortable feeling out of the blue? Not the kind of emotional response that comes from remembering a memory that triggers such feelings, but one that comes without any real cause? Plenty of people suffer from sudden mood shifts or a sense of spiritual discomfort. While there will be different reasons behind going through such a process, it is important to remember that not all of the causes of such conditions are metaphysical in nature. In fact, you might just need some more sleep.
Experts have long stated that the average adult human needs roughly eight hours of uninterrupted sleep each night in order to function at optimal levels. Since modern living keeps people moving around the clock, sleep usually is one of the first necessities sacrificed. However, this can lead to a very real impact on many aspects of your mind, body, and spirit.
Mental Health
A sense of spiritual unwellness usually originates in the head. While you might have a feeling, you likely won’t recognize what the issue is until you’ve sat with it for a bit and deliberated. A lack of sleep tends to have a big impact on your mind, how it functions, and how you perceive the world. A scenario that normally fills you with joy and contentment could bring about anger or annoyance when you have not gotten enough rest.
Before assuming you need to go on a spiritual quest that takes you to all the corners of the globe, try your bed. Getting into a consistent schedule of slumber will reveal whether or not your mindset is due to a lack of snoozing or something deeper.
Immune Function
Another way you might recognize the signs of feeling unhappy in a spiritual sense is by having gut reactions to certain situations. Though the brain is a main source and hub of a number of key hormones related to basic functions, the digestive system is just as involved. The gut-brain connection can often lead people to make assumptions about certain feelings that they are going through, especially when the cause of such emotions is unclear.
While you should always trust your gut to a degree, there will come times when it is not sending you an accurate message. When you don’t get enough sleep, your immune system will start to suffer. This can lead to inflammation, a higher chance of getting sick, fatigue, confusion, and a number of other problems.
Overall Mood
If you’ve ever spent a lot of time around someone who is operating on little to no sleep, you know the experience is usually an unpleasant one. People who don’t sleep well tend to be easier to irritate and more likely to forget important bits of information. This forgetfulness can compound their moods, making them snap at or feel depressed over interactions that are seemingly innocuous from the outside. If you want to avoid being someone that rubs people the wrong way during casual interactions, sleep is your best bet.
How To Get Better Sleep
While there’s no perfect secret to getting more sleep, there are small steps you can take to see a difference. Most people tell themselves they are busier than they are. When you scrutinize your day, you may realize you waste a lot of idle hours before bed on your phone or doing mindless tasks. If this is the case, try to put down the phone and pick up a book. Reading a physical book instead of scrolling your feed helps to reduce how much blue light your brain comes in contact with, which helps to encourage sleep.
While not all sources of spiritual discomfort can be traced back to a lack of sleep, it is a wonderful place to start when you’re not sure why you’re feeling how you do. Make time for a nap or two during your week and see if a few more trips to dreamland help you feel whole inside.
Add Your Comment