Learn why sleep deprivation and mental health issues have a bidirectional relationship, plus tips for breaking the cycle.

Try an Unexpected Technique a Sleep Doctor Swears By

What Is Sleep Hygiene, Exactly?

Mental health challenges frequently disrupt sleep cyclesandare worsened by disrupted sleep cycles.

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Mental health challenges frequently disrupt sleep cyclesandare worsened by disrupted sleep cycles.

Sleep is essentialits like air, water, and food, says psychologistAriel Zeigler, PhD.

And yet, despite its importance, plenty of us arent sleeping enough.

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clinical psychologist specializing in anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship issues

Remember the example of waking up irritable after a night of poor sleep?

Thats the same relationship at play.

Amorosi

And that makes it harder to turn everything off at night.

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In turn, its easy to get stuck in the negative anxiety-and-sleep-loss feedback loop.

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Heres What a Sleep Doctor Thinks

Does Your Sleeping Position Really Say Anything About Your Mental Health?

Much like with anxiety, sleep difficulties prompted by depression can, in turn, worsen depressive symptoms.

Even changes in sleep that can affect your overall sleep quality have been shown to increase depression risk.

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clinical psychologist specializing in anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship issues

Read on for the experts suggestions.

Thats why creating apeaceful, consistent nighttime routineis so important, says Dr. Zeigler.

But Dr. Zeigler cautions that your bed should be for sleep and sex only.

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And the last thing you need when struggling with sleep is a new layer ofsleep-related anxietywith which to contend.

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