Essay Example on The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Mental Health

Depression Mood and Stress The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Mental Health Sleep deprivation can be defined as not obtaining an adequate amount of sleep When someone is sleep deprived they may notice changes in their health specifically changes in the brain and cognitive functions Sleep is a necessary human function Sleeping is an important human function because it allows our brains to recharge and our bodies to rest Many people especially high school and college students do not realize the effects that sleep deprivation can have on their mental health and how sleep deprivation can cause dramatic possibly serious changes to their normal brain functions While many do not realize the negative effects sleep deprivation can have on mental health there is a link between sleep deprivation and mental health because it can put you at a greater risk of developing depression can negatively impact mood and can intensify levels of stress One way sleep deprivation can affect mental health is by putting you at a greater risk of developing depression According to the American Psychiatric 

Association depression can be defined as a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects the way you think and feel Parekh Depression can cause feelings of sadness and can also cause you to lose interest in activities you generally enjoy taking part in While depression is treatable it is important to understand that sleeping well can help reduce and prevent symptoms of depression In a 2013 study done by Maren Nyer Nyer conducted an experiment on college students to study depressive symptoms in students with sleep deprivation and students without sleep deprivation In this study Nyer was able to conclude that College students with depressive symptoms with SD sleep deprivation may experience a greater burden of comorbid anxiety symptoms and hyperarousal and may have impairments in functioning compared to students with depressive symptoms without SD Nyer et al Another researcher Matthew Walker who conducted a similar study suggests that sleep deprivation functions similarly to depression and post traumatic stress disorder