SUN Behavioral Won’t Let Those Zs Escape

Erlanger, KY: SUN Behavioral Health, located in Erlanger, Kentucky, has posted an in-depth article about the challenges of sleeping while struggling with anxiety, and have used their experience and expertise to detail not only the problem but some solutions as well.

The article cites studies conducted by Dr. James O’Brien from the Boston SleepCare Center, who said, “Sleep is not a luxury. It’s a necessity for optimal functioning.” The article focuses on the ways in which sleep helps bodies continue on as they are meant to, and also the ways in which a lack of sleep can drastically impact health.

A lack of sleep can lead to many negative outcomes, such as deteriorating decision-making skills that lead to personal injury or even injuries to others. The article details how sleep recharges not only bodies but brains as well and discusses how SUN can play a role in helping guide someone back toward healthier sleeping habits.

“First, go to sleep and wake up at the same time every night and day,” the article states. The creation of routines like this can play a large role in conditioning the body to react a certain way, oftentimes without much conscious thought involved.

The article goes on to state that “[going] outside regularly while the sun is up, at least for a half-hour or so” is incredibly helpful as well. This functions as another way to condition the body, including the subconscious mind, for when it is time to be awake and when it is time to sleep.

SUN also details the intricacies of how bodies sleep, specifically citing the different stages of sleep and how bodies and brains utilize them. “The two types of sleep are Rapid Eye Movement (REM) and non-REM,” they say. Each is important for the body, and each generally lasts for a similar amount of time each night.

“[REM sleep] usually [happens] around 90 minutes after falling asleep,” the article states. This is the state most often referenced, as it is the period when dreams tend to happen, though not always.

Multiple studies have revealed the results of losing sleep, specifically if someone is getting under six hours per night. One of those results is a higher statistical probability for being obese, among other physical transformations and ailments, like potentially developing diabetes or heart disease.

Further, the information provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services indicated that getting a full night of sleep has a significant impact on a person’s mood the following day. Along with this, decision-making skills are refined and the body is put under much less stress and anxiety, which can also significantly affect the mind.

Other than the self-care methods listed, there are professional modes of treatment available to help those struggling with anxiety that may or may not affect their sleep patterns. SUN Behavioral Health uses evidence-based methods, and specifically one known as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).

It has been used within the treatment world for years and has produced reliable results. Patients utilize CBT in solo and group therapy sessions and focus on how their thoughts and emotions interact with their behaviors. This allows them to begin guiding their reactions to troubling situations and to also develop a further understanding of why they may be thinking and/or reacting a certain way.

As a mental health and addiction treatment center with a Gold Seal of Approval via the Joint Commission, SUN Behavioral is fully accredited with years of high-level modes of treatment. They have significant experience in treating mental and emotional disorders, as well as those struggling with addiction, and also those struggling with a dual diagnosis.

The SUN Behavioral Health facility in Kentucky has specialized treatment options for children and adolescents and offers both inpatient and outpatient services. A child struggling with anxiety or other mental health disorders can get the special attention and treatment needed at SUN. There is a psychiatrist on-staff to aid in medication prescription and adjustment. SUN Behavioral also has locations in Ohio, Delaware, and Texas, and someone available to speak with 24 hours a day, seven days a week.