Stress and Sleep Deprivation
Causes, Effects, Prevention and Management
By Elizabeth Scott, MS
Are you getting enough sleep? If you’re like many people, you’re no stranger to sleep deprivation. According to a sleep poll of about 15,000 respondents on this site, around half are getting six or fewer hours of sleep per night—which can put them in a state of sleep deprivation.
Effects of Sleep Deprivation
If you’re reading this and have gotten less sleep than you wish you did last night, you may also find yourself more stressed than you could be.
People regularly getting less than ideal amount of nightly sleep may be prone to the following and more:
- Mild to moderate cognitive impairment
- Motor skill impairment
- Emotional irritability
- Weight gain
- Weakened immunity
Stress and Sleep Deprivation
More than just being tired throughout the day, not getting enough sleep can color your whole day and subtly, but pervasively, create more stress. Most of these factors can lead to greater stress:
- Being less mentally sharp at work can jeopardize your performance and potentially cause problems on the job.
- Getting sick more often puts you under pressure and additional stress.
- Experiencing emotional reactivity can cause conflict with co-workers, family, and friends.
- Being more prone to accidents obviously has its own set of dangers.
Combating Sleep Deprivation
If you find yourself wishing you’d gotten more sleep last night—and an honest look at your lifestyle reveals that lack of adequate sleep is a common occurrence,—some changes should probably be made….
Read the full article HERE on verywellmind.com