Sleep problems and negative thinking
Recent studies show that sleep problems and a negative line of thought have a direct relationship with each other. People who go to bed late – in combination with interrupted sleep or sleep problems – have more negative thoughts. Especially compared with people who go to bed early and sleep well.
Relationship between sleep problems and negative thinking
In previous studies there was a connection between sleep problems and a continuous negative line of thought. Nota and Cole wanted to investigate whether there is a connection between having these negative thoughts and the time when someone goes to bed.
According to the researchers, the following is a definition for “continuous negative thinking”: An abstract, stable, negative focus on problems and experiences that are difficult to grasp. People who suffer from this kind of thoughts tend to worry too much about the future or the past. They experience that the thoughts are intrusive and unpleasant.
According Nota and Cole people who experience such thoughts often suffer from the following disorders:
- general stress disorder
- serious depression
- post-traumatic stress disorder
- compulsive disorder
- social anxiety disorder
It is also this group of people who often suffer from sleep problems. And this also applies to people with chronic hyperventilation.
Sufficient sleep
Ensuring sufficient sleep could have a positive influence on inhibiting intrusive thoughts. During the study, 100 university students were asked to complete various questionnaires. There were two assignments on the computer. This allowed them to measure how many concerns they had. And how often the same thoughts returned time and again. They also looked at how obsessed they were about something. In other words, one can thereby measure the presence of a continuous negative thought process.
Then the students had to indicate if they were morning or evening people. They also looked at whether they went to bed at regular times. And whether they had a later sleep-wake rhythm.
Research results
The research results showed that students who slept for shorter periods and went to bed late more often had negative thoughts. This was considerably less for those who slept for longer periods and went to bed earlier. In addition, the students who named themselves as ‘evening people’ had more frequent negative thoughts.
One must ensure that one sleeps at the right time of the day
The researchers say that their research results indicate that sleep interruption is related to the development of a continuous negative line of thought. They also believe that people who are at risk of developing a disorder with such intrusive thoughts must ensure that they sleep well enough. Nota said it as follows. “People with intrusive thoughts must ensure that they sleep at the right time of the day. Which is a cheap and easy to perform treatment for these people.”
The next step for the research team is to examine how sleep data can be used to help patients with an anxiety disorder. People with hyperventilation can also suffer from this. And so it is also important for them to get enough sleep. See also the article about a healthy lifestyle.
