With final exams, term papers, and other deadlines steadily approaching, there is much to worry about for students these days. As if the stress of these events wasn’t enough, the worry for the stressors itself may also be harmful to one’s wellbeing. Many plague themselves with repetitive negative thoughts that may eventually bestow a feeling of internal pessimism that is difficult to shake off.
It’s no surprise sleep leaves us feeling recharged and refreshed, but it may be especially important for times of stress and commotion. Researchers at Binghamton University, Jacob A. Nota and Meredith E. Coles, are claiming that sleeping at later hours for reduced periods of time encourages repetitive negative thinking, extreme rumination, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Although worrying and negative thinking are normal facts of life, a lack of sleep may result in a great excess of this negative thinking which may impede on one’s ability to function happily and efficiently. Sleep is particularly essential if you deal with unwarranted intrusive thoughts that typify various disorders, such as: generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and social anxiety disorder. Nota and Coles found that an increase in sleep resulted in a decrease of several symptoms that characterize these psychopathologies.
Although it is important to give one’s best effort, which sometimes comes at the cost of sleep, it is imperative that this sacrifice is not consistently made in the long-term. Repetitive negative thoughts and rumination can interfere with both one’s work and happiness, so it’s always important to sleep better to feel both happier and healthier!
References:
Jacob A. Nota, Meredith E. Coles. Duration and Timing of Sleep are Associated with Repetitive Negative Thinking. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 2014; DOI:1007/s10608-014-9651-7