We have just observed Mental Health Awareness Month, which is, as the publicity says ‘’A designated time to educate the public, reduce stigma, and promote understanding of mental health issues.’’
What isn’t always so clearly stated, and we are not always made sufficiently aware of, is the link between good sleep and good mental health. As sleep and good mattresses are inextricably linked, we thought it would be a good idea, whilst we still have good mental health on the brain (if you’ll excuse the pun), to elaborate a bit more on this.
The negative side
Before discussing the positive aspects of good sleep on our mental health, it is prudent to highlight the negative consequences of poor sleep patterns, such as insufficient sleep, constantly interrupted sleep, or erratic sleeping habits.
Just a few of the problems associated with mental health resulting from this are poor cognitive functions like learning and memory, irregular emotions and bad moods (you know how ‘edgy’ you can be without proper sleep), and an inability to cope with stress.
The worst-case scenario is poor sleep, ultimately leading to depression and anxiety, mood swings, and a total inability to cope with everyday activities.
The positive side
On the positive side, good sleep leads to a mirror image of all of these because of the very important restorative functions of sleep and some of the positive things that are going on while we sleep.
While we are in slumber, our system is being ‘rebooted,’ giving our body and brain the ability to regulate emotions, better cope with stress, and handle everyday challenges.
Better all-around cognitive function is being formed as we sleep, because memories are being sorted and new pathways to learning and being able to retain information are being forged. Very importantly, it is the regeneration of the brain functions that result in elevated moods and more emotional stability in our waking hours.
What should always be remembered is that whichever way we start to lean, a vicious cycle starts to form. In other words, poor sleep leads to mental health issues, and in turn, mental health issues can result in obtaining poorer sleep, because of worry and depression, etc. The only way to go is to ensure that, however we achieve it, we maintain a healthy, regular sleep regime.
Good mattresses promote good sleep!
So, if you agree that the link between good sleep and good mental health is a vitally important one, but you have some problems obtaining the kind of good sleep you’d like to have, then consider the link between good sleep and a good mattress!
A comfortable, firm mattress, designed to give you good postural support, can vastly improve your ability to sleep soundly and awaken feeling great – and what could be better for your mood or emotional well-being than that?
Don’t just take our word for it, though. Test a Truform mattress at a store near you, or contact us to discuss your specific mattress requirements, and discover the difference a really great mattress can make and why Truform has been renowned as one of South Africa’s premier mattress manufacturers for the last 40 years!
Here’s to good sleep, good mental health, and a Truform mattress!