The Psychology of Sleep: How Snoring Affects Mental Health

Will a humidifier help me stop snoring?

We will cover here how lack of quality sleep leads to tiredness, and snoring and also cover some aspects of bad sleeping such as screen time before sleeping, food, and lack of movements(such as walks) after dinner. Things that can help – No screen time for at least 2 hours before sleep, reading, meditation, and other things you want to add Carina.

Millions of people tend to snore when they fall asleep. Among these masses, there likely isn’t a single individual who does it out of choice. Absolutely no one likes the idea that they might be making a lot of loud, annoying, and uncomfortable noises when they are simply trying to get some shut-eye. Most people tend to feel quite embarrassed about snoring but did you know that snoring can also cause emotional distress and may even affect your mental health?

How Snoring can Affect your Mental Health

There are quite a few different ways in which snoring can affect your mental health, and it is important to realize that no two people are affected in the same way. Here is a quick look at how different people might be emotionally affected when they snore loudly.

  1. Sleep Deprivation
    The main reason why snoring might affect your mental health is due to the fact that your brain never truly shuts down entirely. There is always some part of your brain that will keep processing noises. The annoying snoring noises you might make could keep waking you up throughout the night and may cause sleep deprivation. The lack of sleep can have a huge impact on your mental health and can also start to affect your relationships and even your career or studies.
  2. Memory and Focus
    The more tired you are, the harder it will be to stay focused on a task. Sleep deprivation might also make it difficult for you to remember important things like appointments or work-related information.
  3. Anxiety and Depression
    Feeling tired all the time can make you feel quite depressed. This is especially true for those who might not have the energy to socially engage with friends or colleagues. It is natural to keep isolating yourself when you don’t have the energy to deal with others or when you might not be up for an evening of fun. Depression can gradually increase as you keep isolating yourself from the world.
  4. Relationship Health
    Snoring can have a profound impact on your relationship health. Loud snoring doesn’t just affect your own sleep. It can also affect the sleep quality of a partner sleeping next to you. Pretty soon, your partner might attempt to sleep in a different room just so they can enjoy some peace and quiet. This can make the snoring partner feel guilty, and both partners might soon start to feel neglected or hurt.
  5. Low Self-Esteem
    Most people who snore tend to feel bad about the strange noises they might make while taking a nap. This can have a pretty big impact on your self-esteem, especially if you already have a couple of insecurities.

Habits That Can Cause You to Snore More and Helpful Solutions

Habits That Can Cause You to Snore More and Helpful Solutions

There are a number of bad habits that can make you snore a lot more or that can increase your tendency to snore unusually loud. Here are some of the most common bad habits that cause a lot of loud snoring.

  1. Screen Time Before Bed
    Screen time before bed will over-stimulate your brain. The light from your phone screen also stimulates the release of brain chemicals that are designed to keep you awake during the daytime. If you spend a lot of time on your phone before going to bed, you might find yourself lying wide awake until the early hours of the morning. When you finally do fall asleep, your body will likely be exhausted to the point where you might start snoring unusually loud.
    To avoid snoring, you can cut on screen time before bed. It is best to stop using devices and to avoid screen time for at least 2 hours before bed.
  2. Eating Too Much
    Eating too much or indulging in a heavy meal before going to bed can make you feel bloated. When your body is bloated, your airways can become restricted, and it can be difficult to get enough oxygen. This may cause more forceful inhaling which can result in snoring.
    Your body will also send a lot more blood towards your stomach and intestines in an attempt to break down the heavy meal you just enjoyed. This can make your brain feel a lot more exhausted and can make you enter a deeper state of sleep and people do tend to snore more when they enter a deeper state of sleep or when they are extremely tired.
    To avoid the discomfort, it is recommended to start eating earlier in the evening. Try to avoid all foods at least two hours before bedtime.
  3. A Lack of Movement
    Snoring is pretty common among those who are obese or overweight. The lack of movement after eating or in general can make you gain weight. This excess weight puts a lot more pressure on your airways and also increases your risk of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The combination of these conditions and restricted airways can make you snore a lot louder.
    It can be very helpful to move more throughout the day, especially after enjoying a filling meal.
  4. Consuming Alcohol Before Bed
    Alcohol tends to make us feel tired because it relaxes the muscles. These types of beverages can also relax your throat and tongue muscles, and your airways will become restricted. This can make you snore quite loudly.
    For snorers, it is best to consume alcohol moderately and to avoid drinking for a couple of hours before going to bed.
  5. Misuse of Medication
    Handling your medication the wrong way can also cause you to snore a lot more. Those with respiratory conditions or sinus issues should take their medicine before bed. Medications are great for keeping your airways nice and open so you won’t snore. Using sleep aids can also cause you to snore a lot louder because some sleep medications can relax your body too much.

From this guide, it becomes pretty clear that snoring doesn’t only affect us physically, it can also have a pretty huge impact on our mental health. Snoring is a clear sign that something is wrong with your body or with your health and it is also a good sign that you should start seeking help or give invasive treatments. When you get enough peace and quiet at night, you are bound to feel a lot happier and more energetic.

Thanks to Searchfrog for the Input

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