Do you struggle to sleeping? I understand I’ve struggled with sleep, and I’m sure you’ll agree. It is true that sleeping is a necessity and can have many negative consequences that a lack of sleep can bring about. However, I completely understand that it can be that the evening in which everything is peaceful and nobody else is awake, can be the ideal time to relax and catch up on your favorite shows, finish some chores or work done or simply enjoy some peace and “me” time while you sift through your social media.
It could be that you’re actually trying to fall asleep however your brain seems to keep focusing on the things you need to accomplish next day and what you did not accomplish today. In any case, you’re definitely not sleeping. Are you really able to sleep enough? the risk of sacrificing your mental and physical health? Continue reading to learn more.
As a Usui attuned and trained Reiki Level II practitioner, it is believed that our existence is comprised of four bodies: the physical body (biological/physiological), the mental body (thoughts), the emotional body (feelings), and the spiritual body (energy i.e our Chakra System). As a healing coach I instruct my clients that when they experience stress or we are not taking care of one of the four bodies and a lack of the basic requirements and self-care, it could manifest as illnesses or diseases within each of our four bodies, particularly the physical body. Self-care is crucial.
A part of self-care is providing our body with the nutrients it requires. As a former psychotherapist and licensed social worker I am aware that when we consider Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, our physiological needs are situated at the top and bottom of the pyramid. They consist of essentials for the foundation of our functioning. It is possible to do a quick Google Image search in order to find the exact pyramid. The bottom of the pyramid are our the psychological need, right below the safety requirements. The basic biological needs are nutrition, food, shelter water, oxygen clothes and, of course, sleeping!
Imagine this in terms of The house or apartment your home is unable to support itself without a strong foundation. If there are problems with the foundation or in the basement, it can affect the entire structure. If you own a house and are aware that foundation damage or any other thing that affects the foundation of your house could affect its existence and longevity in time. The body, in this instance is not any more or less. This is the reason we should ensure that our body is getting the right nutrients similar to how we supply our cars with gas and fuel when it’s in need. And we restart our phones and laptops whenever they require to shut off or re-started.
Our bodies require sleep in order to function. Lack of sleep can have a significant impact on your overall health and longevity, and could eventually cause serious or even fatal negative effects.
What does a sleeping patterns affect the four body parts? Here are the 10 deadly consequences sleep deprivation could result in.
1. The immune system is weak
Sleep deprivation can affect the immune system of your body, causing your body to become more vulnerable to illnesses, and mental health problems, especially those who are already struggling with mental illness or immune-compromised or suffer from an autoimmune condition. If you notice that you are getting sick regularly and suffer from inadequate sleep, seek assistance from a physician and ensure that you increase your the intake of herbal remedies which can boost your immune system, including Vitamin C.
2. Physical Health Issues
Sleep deprivation has been thought to increase the likelihood of developing a variety of chronic illnesses like heart and respiratory ailments. Thyroid problems are also caused by poor sleep, as the body doesn’t produce enough hormones required for proper thyroid functioning, which could affect the whole body, not only the physical health of us, but also the spiritual wellbeing (Throat Chakra) and our mental health as well.
As we rest our body receives enough rest to ensure that, while we’re asleep, the needed replenishing of hormones and additional “behind behind the scenes” tasks can take place.
3. Poor Productivity
The lack of focus and productivity due to sleep issues and sleep issues, such as difficulties falling asleep, disturbed sleep, and having trouble getting to sleep can contribute to our productivity throughout the daytime. It can lead to the amount of mental fog which implies that we’re not attending to our commitments properly.
It also means that it may slow progress in our duties and, while it might not be fatal for our body however it can be fatal to our wallets in the event that we do not have a laser-like focus and efficiency at work which can lead to one being forced loss of their jobs, result in financial difficulties.
4. Unhealthy mental and emotional health
As an ER social worker I’ve witnessed in person how a lack of sleep can lead to bad mental health. This is evident in patients suffering from schizophrenia, or Bipolar Disorder II, where mental health problems can become more severe because of inadequate sleep, or insufficient sleep by itself and can cause the occurrence of manic or crisis-like episodes.
If you’re suffering from an undiagnosed mental issue or diagnosis, or are suffering from poor mental hygiene, sleeping poorly is a poison on the emotional and mental body. It can trigger commendable visual and auditory hallucinations, dizziness, distortion of thinking or delusions that could cause poor decision-making or self-injury to others, or even worse.
5. Sleep Disorders
Sleep disturbances can affect the endurance and functioning of our circadian rhythm. This is among the most significant issues that lack of sleep could result in. It affects us physically and mentally, but it can also lead to a higher risk of developing more serious sleep disorders or issues like sleep apnea or insomnia.
It’s essential to time for bed and a an alarm time to ensure the natural cycle of sleep and wake (like the moon and sun) that is healthy for your overall wellbeing. Furthermore, it is possible to be addicted to stimulants or consume excessive amounts of caffeine, sodas and energy drinks to aid in our wake-cycle if we’re not getting enough sleeping, which isn’t good for our well-being.
6. Forced Shut-Down
Do you find yourself blasting music while driving because of fatigued to drive? I’m not sure who needs to listen to this, but the idea of highway hypnosis is real, and when you’re tired, particularly during the night when you drive this can increase the likelihood of having to shut down of the body. This is similar to a shutdown of your phone or computer.
While typing this, I am reminded of the scene from the classic comedy film National Lampoon’s Vacation in which the character, Clark Griswold played by Chevy Chase, is asleep behind the wheel while driving with his entire family members in the car. While Clark Griswold was able to avoid collisions or other harm in the movie, in actual life it could be fatal. Drowsy or fatigued driving can be dangerous, particularly when operating vehicles or heavy equipment.
We need to encourage “don’t drive if you’re exhausted” similar to how we encourage “don’t take a drink while driving.” You must be aware of this because it could really save someone’s life particularly yours.
7. Anger or Irritability Increased
Have you ever been annoyed or angry when you’re hungry? I think the phrase is referred to as “hangry.” It’s true that you’re bound to be more angry when we suffer from sleep deprivation. Perhaps we could coin it to be referred to as “slirritable”–when you are angry due to lack of sleep?
Okay, joking aside, we should be aware of our anger. This affects the area of our brain referred to as the amygdala. This brain area is responsible for the way we manage our emotions and react in situations of perceived danger. If we aren’t sleeping and become frustrated or triggered the “fight or flight” and freeze” response is automatically activated like the switch on a light, which can affect the way we respond to events as well as our ability to control our impulses.
If we’re angry or angry, we’re more likely to engage in disputes with those we love, or become involved in physical fights which could end up being fatal to the relationship as a whole. Take a deep breath before reacting or, as it was said by the film Bad Boys 2 starring Will Smith–“woosah” and then go to for a rest!
8. Poor Memory
If we suffer from sleep disorders affects the overall recall of memories as well as the part of the brain that stores memories is more prone to make mistakes. I’ve seen this happen directly in nurses who are overworked and who play a crucial role to ensure the safety of patients.
If you’re not getting enough rest this will definitely affect your ability to recall the processes, systems routines, even simple dates. This makes you more prone to make mistakes and to make errors. When you’re stressed and exhausted it can be fatal in the case of your field of work. A mistake can cost an individual’s life and also your job.
9. Weight Gain
If you’re looking to lose weight, it could be challenging if you’re not allowing your body to relax. When we rest and sleep our bodies are “burning at night, burning off the oil” according to the saying when we are asleep. The body is utilizing the energy and nutrients that we consume all day long to eliminate calories, which can aid in weight loss.
Insufficiency in weight or excess weight can cause various medical conditions and chronic illnesses that may result in a premature death. It’s therefore essential to allow our inner body to take a break in order to “clock into” the graveyard shift, while we get a good night’s sleep.
10. Poor Libido
If nothing I’ve mentioned up to now has inspired you to establish SMART goals to help you sleep better and have it affect your sexual life could be the motivation you require. Yup! Sleep deprivation can affect the sex drive!
Sleeping insufficiently can affect the production of essential hormones that are naturally produced by the body that increase the sex drive and the desire for libido. Insufficient hormone production because of sleep issues can lead to extreme sexual problems, like infertility, erectile disorder or even mood disorders. These can result in issues for you as well as your partner(s) and your partner(s) both inside and outside of the bedroom. It can also affect relationships.
Final Thoughts
As an intuitive healer who is spiritual and mindfulness advocate, as well as yoga instructor, I’ll state that sleep is crucial for our body’s spiritual health particularly since we now know the effects that sleep deprivation can create.
In the night we get grounded reset, reconnect, and connect the subconscious, our higher self, and the inner wisdom. In addition, we can dream. There are those who believe that we could travel to places in our dreams, experience visits from beloved ones that have gone through transition or passed away or even receive messages and guidance. We let go, we relax and take care of our four bodies. This is why, when we’re sick or suffering our bodies force us to rest. You can accept your ultimate pause, the permission to rest.
If you’re having trouble sleeping or your daily routines ensure that you contact your physician and mental health specialists for help to ensure health and wellness across the four organs. Sleep studies are recommended to assist in the identification of any medical cause for problems with sleep or sleeping. A psychiatrist will also be able to assist with your sleep problems and needs.
Now, go rest!
