Technics of the Stress Management and Sleep - Essay Example

"Technics of the Stress Management and Sleep" is a useful example of a paper on neurology.
“Neuroscientists now believe sleep is not only crucial to brain development but is also necessary to help consolidate the effects of waking experience – by converting memory into more permanent and/or enhanced forms” (Renew Sleep and Stress). Stress and sleep have certain direct relationships. Psychiatrists and psychologists advice or guide mental patients to sleep as much as possible to settle their mental activities. Psychologically disordered persons usually may not sleep enough which will deepen their problems further. Depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, stroke etc are usually associated with sleeping problems. Two persons facing the same situation may act differently because of their difference in personality. Some people may adjust with stresses whereas some others may not because of the difference in mental abilities to cope up with stress. This paper briefly analyses the relationships between sleep and stress.

Sleep and Stress

Sleep is a naturally occurring phenomenon for living things in which they suspend their conscious sensory and motor activities for a while and take rest. Sleep is often characterized by total or partial out of control of consciousness. On the other hand, stress is a part of human life. Nobody can claim that they are free from stress. The busy modern life contributes a lot to the stress factors. Stress can affect both personal and professional life. It is an emotional problem caused by some external or internal agents. Lot of physical symptoms like headache, lack of sleep etc may associate with stress.

On average a person should sleep 8 hours to keep his physical and mental health. Rest and relaxation are essential for all living things. They cannot work continuously without rest like machines. What makes rest or sleep necessary for living things is the emotions. Unlike nonliving things, living things have psychological needs. Types of machinery need periodical servicing; same way living things need servicing for their mental activities and this servicing is often obtained through proper sleep. If this servicing is not done properly, living things may behave indifferently.

“According to a new survey of approximately 2,000 people conducted by the Better Sleep Council (BSC), 51 per cent of Americans say stress disturbs their sleep” (Mamashealth.com). Some people may lose their sleep when they get agitated over something or under some kind of stress. On the other hand, some others sleep well even when they were under severe stress. The ability to cope up with stress is different in different people. Dr Avi Sadeh (Tel Aviv University) argued that those "who tended to focus on their emotions and anxiety during the high-stress period were more likely to shorten their sleep, while those who tended to ignore emotions and focus on tasks extended their sleep and shut themselves off from stress (Renew Sleep and Stress). Some people are mentally tough; they will not bother much about the emotions. For example, most of the successful business people may have the ability to adjust to the stresses and emotions. They will never bring their business problems to their family and will sleep well.

The question of whether a lack of sleep causes stress or stress causes lack of sleep is an interesting one. In fact, lack of sleep can cause stress and at the same time stress can cause lack of sleep also. In other words, the relationships between sleep and stress are bidirectional. Sprang (2002) has pointed out that stress may result in the production of a large amount of Cortisol in our body which can cause adverse health conditions like cardiac problems, strokes, obesity, a lower immunity system, and insomnia (Sprang)

Stress causes our muscles to tense, preventing us from being in the relaxed state necessary for sleep (How Stress Affects Sleep). Sleeping is a phenomenon which needs good physical and mental health. In the absence of either of the two, it is difficult to sleep. For example, a person with some physical pain or mental agony may not sleep well. Mental problems or stresses can tighten the muscles which need to be loosened for getting proper sleep.

The current generation is tied up with so many commitments with respect to their family, society and workplace. These commitments often force them to work hard and the failure to fulfil the commitments may often result in immense stress and lack of sleep. Stress management is essential for sleep management also.

Stress and sleep management

Most of the stress and sleep problems are manmade only. Unnecessary worries, anxieties and concerns create sleep problems and stresses. Negative thoughts are the major reason for stress and sleep problems. The self-realization about the actual causes of the stress factors is important in stress or sleep management.

Since both stress and sleep are interconnected management of either of them may resolve the problems associated with other too. For example, stress management techniques can improve mental health and also the sleep levels of a person. Yoga, mediations and deep breathing exercises can help us to manage stress. Stress can be relieved in a few simple steps without using any medicines. It is possible to practice deep breathing exercises anytime and anywhere. If the correct attitude is there, it is possible to relieve stress within 10 to 20 minutes using deep breathing techniques. In extreme cases, psychiatrists prescribe some medicines also to remove stress. Physical exercises and relaxation techniques like watching television, playing some games etc can also relieve stress.

Conclusions

Stress and sleep have direct bidirectional relationships. Stress can cause sleep problems and sleep problems can cause stress. Enough sleep and relief from stress are essential for physical and mental health. Depression, schizophrenia, anxiety, Alzheimer’s, heart problems etc can result from stress or sleep-related problems. Stress management techniques and some kind of meditations can the people to come out from the stress or sleep-related problems.