Guest article from Wellnesscentral.info
You know the feeling: As soon as your head hits the pillow, your mind starts racing. You toss and turn for hours before suddenly realizing you only got a few hours of broken sleep. If you’re a parent, chances are you’re familiar with this sort of scenario — particularly if you are a parent who is struggling to cope with anxiety. The thing is, you need to break the cycle of poor sleep to manage anxiety and your general mental health. Here’s how to start.
Don’t Let Anxiety Keep You From Getting Good Sleep
If you’re a parent living with anxiety, constant worries and fears could be interfering with how well you sleep. To improve your quality of sleep, you may need to address your anxiety first.
- Talk about your anxieties with others who will understand you to feel a sense of relief.
- Take steps to put fears to rest. For instance, invest in a quality home security system.
- Know that feeling anxious is common for parents, but there are ways to address yours.
- If you feel especially anxious while laying in bed, try getting more exercise and self-care.
Don’t Overlook the Importance of Taking Time for You
If you’re having issues with sleep, you really should be prioritizing your self-care. Self-care during the day can set you up for more relaxing nights.
- Focusing on self-care could mean keeping a consistent routine or moving more.
- Staying physically active is actually a good way to destress and improve your sleep.
- Understand that self-care can be basic, like drinking more water or eating healthy.
- If you’re a busy parent, staying organized and practicing self-compassion count!
Do Discuss Sleep and Mental Health With Your Doctors
Sometimes you need a little help to manage your mental health and get the sleep you need, and you shouldn’t be ashamed of this. Sleep is too important not to reach out for help when needed.
- Some indicators that you may have a sleep disorder include oversleeping and snoring.
- Keeping a sleep journal may make it easier to talk to health providers about your issues.
- Your doctor may recommend a sleep study or counseling to address your concerns.
- If you struggle with anxiety, routine counseling can also help you manage mental health.
Finding simple ways to take better care of yourself can do wonders for your sleep. When you get better sleep, you are likely to feel better and have an easier time coping with feelings of anxiety. Look for tactics to soothe your anxiety at home, make self-care a top priority, and be sure to talk with your healthcare providers about your sleep and mental health concerns.
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Anxious mum30 