What Your Sleep Posture Says About Your Mind

 What Your Sleep Posture Reveals About Your Psychological

Some TikTok influencers assert that specific sleep postures, such as the “mountain climber” or “flamingo,” indicate elevated stress or emotional strain.

Although intriguing, this notion lacks robust scientific validation.

Contemporary studies concentrate on sleep quality and its correlation with physical and mental well-being. One investigation found that side sleeping might aid the brain in eliminating waste, potentially reducing Alzheimer’s disease risk.1

Nevertheless, experts indicate the strongest link is between stress and sleep: each can exacerbate the other, irrespective of sleep position.

How Does Stress Influence Your Sleep?

Under stress, your body activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, triggering the release of cortisol, a vital hormone in managing stress responses.

Besides regulating our sleep-wake cycle, cortisol assists in managing metabolism and mitigating inflammation. Prolonged elevated cortisol or chronic stress can disturb these functions, resulting in inflammation, persistent pain, depression, and even advancing Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.2

Cortisol levels are intended to gradually decrease throughout the day. When elevated cortisol levels persist into the night, this hormonal disruption hampers melatonin production, a hormone essential for quality sleep.3 Over time, high cortisol levels may result in sleep issues like insomnia and worsen anxiety and depression.4

This creates a detrimental loop where stress leads to poor sleep, which intensifies stress and makes restful sleep even harder to achieve.

“If you don’t experience highly efficient and uninterrupted sleep, you might develop anxiety or depression. However, individuals who receive treatment for their sleep issues often experience substantial improvements in their psychological well-being, too.

Research has shown that numerous sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, insomnia, narcolepsy, daytime drowsiness, and nightmares, are more prevalent among those facing mental health struggles.4

Neurodivergent individuals, especially those with ADHD, often encounter more significant obstacles to achieving quality sleep due to low melatonin levels at night, sensory sensitivities, or a more reactive nervous system.5

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How to Alleviate Stress Before Sleep

Certain nighttime habits, such as grinding your teeth and covering your ears while asleep, might signal nervous system activation, but they don’t necessarily represent your daytime stress levels, focus on sleep medicine and an associate professor at UC Irvine, explained to Very well.

They might actually be responses to immediate physical stress. However, some disturbances during sleep, like sleepwalking, night terrors, and other movement-related issues, are frequently observed in people experiencing substantial levels of stress, noted

If stress disrupts your slumber, establishing an evening routine and incorporating relaxation techniques before bed can assist in signaling to your body that it’s time to relax.

Here are a few approaches to facilitate your body in obtaining the necessary rest:

• Keep work and daytime engagements away from the bedroom.
• Eliminate stimulating activities within three hours of bedtime.
• Engage in progressive muscle relaxation before sleeping.

With these straightforward adjustments, you can foster a more serene sleep environment, allowing both your body and space to rest and recuperate.