Is sleep deprivation making the world crazy?

Life has been described as many things, but very rarely do we hear it described as peaceful, calm, or quiet. Our lives are a busy mixture of work, chores, responsibilities, and countless unexpected things that pop up throughout the day.

As if the day-to-day chaos of our everyday lives wasn’t enough, it seems like the entire world we live in gets crazier every day. There is no shortage of trauma and strife everywhere we look.

It’s a Mad, Mad World

It seems like every day we hear of yet another natural disaster, mass shooting, terrorist attack, war, or political upset. And it only seems to be getting worse.

We all keep asking ourselves, “Why?” What is causing this negative shift in universal consciousness, and how do we fix it?

It’s easy to assume that there’s a hard and fast answer. I’ve heard people blame everything from the media, to wage inequality, to government conspiracy, to planetary alignment.

Maybe one of those is right. It’s more likely, however, that a combination of the hundreds of causes that have been suggested is the answer.

Our modern world is much more interconnected than it was even a decade ago. We’re able to share information and ideas with complete strangers on the other side of the planet in an instant.

We have the ability to influence the thoughts, feelings, and actions of thousands. They, in turn, can do the same to thousands more. This can create a snowball effect, resulting in a single, seemingly insignificant compliment or harsh criticism having repercussions on a global scale.

We all know what it feels like to have not slept well the night before. You get up and have tons to do, so you go through your day feeling tired and cranky. You’re definitely not your best self when running on little to no sleep.

Some of us go weeks at a time without a single night of sufficient, quality sleep. As a result, we feel completely miserable all the time, and it shows.

So, could it be that maybe, just maybe, one of the countless facets causing the rapid unraveling of our global sanity is that we just aren’t sleeping well?

The Sleep & Mood Connection

According to a recent poll from the National Sleep Foundation, 42 million Americans say their sleep is disrupted by pain or physical discomfort at least a few nights per week.

As if being in pain wasn’t enough, think about the consequences of poor sleep: impaired energy and mood, lack of focus and alertness, increased risk of injury and accidents, and overall poor health. Extreme insomnia can even induce psychosis.

You probably already know from experience how sleep affects mood. After a bad night’s sleep or an all-nighter, you’ve probably noticed that you’re more irritable, short-tempered, and stressed. Once you get caught up on your sleep, you usually feel like your old self again.

Even partial sleep deprivation has been shown to have a drastic effect on mood. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that subjects who only got 4.5 hours of sleep a night for a week said they felt more angry, sad, stressed, and exhausted mentally.

When they started sleeping normally again, they reported a significant improvement in their mood.

Sleep health experts say the relationship between psychiatric and psychological problems and sleep is a significant one. People who suffer from anxiety or depression tend to have problems sleeping as part of the symptoms of those mental disorders.

On the other hand, sleep problems can contribute to psychological problems. One factor that can increase someone’s risk of developing a mood disorder like depression or anxiety is chronic insomnia.

A scientific study of 10,000 adults showed that individuals suffering from insomnia were five times more likely to develop depression.

Those who don’t get enough sleep can be at an even higher risk for anxiety. In the same study, subjects with insomnia were 20 times more likely to develop an anxiety disorder. In another study, insomnia was shown to be a reliable predictor of depression, anxiety disorders, and many other psychiatric illnesses.

Your Mattress Is Making You Miserable

If you sleep poorly and feel depressed, anxious, or irritable, start out by thinking about whether your mattress may be contributing to your sleep loss.

Most sleep experts list sleeping on a comfortable mattress and pillows as one of the most important habits for good sleep health. You need to make sure your mattress is comfortable while also being supportive. If you’ve been sleeping on the same mattress for years, it probably has exceeded its life expectancy.

The usual life expectancy for even the nicest, highest quality mattress is about 9 or 10 years. Some sleep experts suggest that if you’re over 40, this timeframe is actually shorter because your body needs a better foundation for sleep.

The best way to know if your mattress needs to be replaced is to assess your comfort and sleep quality. Look for worn areas at the edges or any sagging in the middle of the mattress. Whenever your partner moves, there should not be any disturbance of your position on the bed.

Do you wake up tired, stiff, or achy and think that hotel beds are extra cozy? Then it’s definitely time for a mattress upgrade. Your mattress is supposed to be comfortable and supportive so that you feel well-rested during the day instead of achy or stiff.

While most people believe they should be sleeping on an extra firm mattress, that’s not necessarily true. You should be using your own body and comfort to judge what feels best in a mattress.

Think about this the same way you think about your pillows. How soft or firm they are all depends on personal preference, but we all know that it’s time to replace them when they start to get lumpy and lose their shape.

Temperature also has a lot to do with how well you’re sleeping. There are countless materials that a mattress can be made with these days, and they all handle heat differently.

Memory foam is a popular mattress material, which many people find comfortable. However, memory foam and other similar materials tend to trap body heat and can make it harder to sleep through the night, especially in the warmer months.

There are newer mattress materials out there that also have the ability to wick away moisture. This is almost a requisite for those of us who sweat in our sleep no matter how hot or cold we are.

You should also make sure your mattress and other bedding are free of allergens that might impede your ability to sleep, especially if you know you have allergies or sinus problems.

Get Some Sleep & Share the Love

Obviously, a new mattress isn’t going to solve all of the world’s problems, but making sure you’re getting enough quality sleep every night and taking care of your overall health and wellness can definitely make a difference in your life.

You’ll probably start to notice that you’re happier and not quite so stressed out and cranky. So pass the love along, and get yourself the cozy, quality mattress and bedding you deserve.

If you need help deciding what kind of mattress is best for you or want to know which mattress brands provide the highest quality, take a look around at our other articles to get you started.

If you already have a new mattress in your shopping cart and need help getting rid of the old one, book a pickup with Mattress Disposal Plus, and we’ll come to pick it up and dispose of it for you in an eco-friendly way as soon as tomorrow morning!