When we talk about stress, we tend to associate it with something extremely negative when in reality, it is a simple physical and emotional reaction that is quite natural and, as long as it occurs in the right amount, it can be helpful. Of course, if we look at it from a more excessive knit of view, it can bring serious consequences such as physical and mental deterioration, and it is a fact that stress impacts sleep.
Stress can be defined as that physical reaction capable of activating a state of alert in the human body to prepare it for a risky situation or one that requires quick action. In this way, it can vary and present itself as acute or chronic stress.
When we talk about acute stress, it is described as that which occurs in the short term and is experienced occasionally. This type of stress can arise in risky situations, activating the body and mind to adapt to the danger and subsequently resolve it.
Now, when we talk about chronic stress, we are talking about a constant condition that, in the long run, becomes harmful. This is capable of keeping the body and mind in a state of constant alertness, and from here, health problems can arise.
This condition contributes to a myriad of health problems such as: digestive issues, headaches, induced asthma attacks, mood disorders causing depression and anxiety, as well as potentially hindering sleep and increasing the risk of disorders.
Pprocess of how Stress Impacts Sleep
As we mentioned earlier, stress is an important process for the body because it is a survival mechanism in dangerous situations, but when it persists over a prolonged period, it can negatively affect the body and trigger health problems at various levels.
There can be problems at the hormonal functioning level since, when the body is exposed to a threat, the production of stress hormones such as adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol increases; thus, they are capable of triggering other physical changes and allow the body to remain in a fight or flight position. In this way, during chronic stress, these hormones are activated unnecessarily.
On the other hand, muscular problems are also seen, tensing all of these during the stress process. Here, if the reaction is not reduced, chronic muscle tension can lead to painful back and head conditions.
Also, one of the most severe impacts can be seen at the respiratory level. Here, stress can cause breathing to become shorter and faster, while for people with a history of respiratory conditions such as asthma or lung diseases, it can be worse.
The impact on blood pressure is also significant because stress-activated hormones cause certain blood vessels to dilate and increase blood pressure. It is important to note that chronic stress can lead to inflammation and increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Traumatic stress is also a type of chronic stress that can occur when a person is exposed to a traumatic event. While many people may cope over time with the effects of some experienced trauma, sometimes the body's response to stress can prolong and begin to interfere with other parts of a person's life.
Relationship between Sleep and Stress
While we have already mentioned what stress is and its repercussions on a physical and mental level, it is also important to note that stress has a quite close relationship with sleep, and they have a bidirectional relationship.
Stress is one of the main causes of sleep loss and little rest. But it also happens the other way around, as lack of sleep can generate a lot of stress. While the link between sleep and stress goes much deeper, research can show that there are several effects of stress on sleep.
And the thing is, stress is responsible for making it more difficult to fall asleep and, therefore, people who suffer from chronic stress are the most prone to suffer from insomnia, a common sleep disorder that, in most cases, is developed by a case of prolonged stress.
Here the structure of sleep may be altered. Although this is still under investigation, those studying it assert that stress can reduce "slow-wave sleep," which is extremely important for maintaining physical and mental health.
In addition to being the main cause of insomnia, stress can also disrupt sleep. The individual who is able to suffer from it will not only wake up during rest hours, but may also experience nightmares or even sleep paralysis.
Even in some cases, sleep bruxism is also present, which is a disorder that involves clenching and grinding teeth during the night. At this knit, chronic stress and muscle tension can increase the risk of suffering from it.
How can stress be reduced and better rest be achieved?
It is normal for many days to be filled with work or personal problems, but one must learn to balance them, in addition to dedicating some good hours to sleep and rest.
It may seem like something insignificant, but with this pathology that affects sleep and rest, we must take into account anything that makes us feel comfortable, even physically, especially when it comes to sleeping and achieving rest.
Therefore, it is important to consider the use of appropriate clothing when sleeping, such as men's pajamas since it is an ideal garment to start that journey towards the development of an improvement therapy.
Of course, developing a plan to deal with stress is a fundamental step to prevent sleep from being interrupted, and undoubtedly a comfortable piece of clothing like a good pajama, which is characterized by improving sleep or maintaining comfort, will be the best companion when it comes to starting to work on yourself.
One should consider the use of comfortable clothing, in a disciplined manner. And the fact is, pajamas can come in a myriad of cuts, colors, fabrics, and more. So there is plenty to choose from.
Anxiety and Sleep
Severe sleep disorders, including insomnia, have long been recognized as a common symptom of anxiety disorders. People suffering from this, who are typically plagued by worries, often reflect on these in bed, and anxiety can also be a cause of difficulties in falling asleep.
Therefore, it is important to emphasize that, while developing a more organized routine to avoid feeling stress or anxiety is crucial, it is also important to respect sleep schedules. Thus, fulfilling a relaxation routine and opting for the use of a sufficiently comfortable pajama and, as we mentioned earlier, doing so in a disciplined manner to ensure comfort at bedtime.