Day 23 of 30 Days of Positive Affirmations is about sleep.

There is nothing more important to my mental health than sleep. Rest makes an incredibly big impact on my state of being. It can rile or calm my soul.

It’s become a big focus of mine the past several years to continually work on the amount and quality of my sleep. I’ve noticed that on the days sleep alludes me, that’s when my anxiety shoots through the roof or my depression rears its head or my mania begins appear.

I’ll never forget the day my psychiatrist said to me “a couple nights of insomnia can cause a psychotic break” in someone with mental illness.

I can absolutely believe it. Insomnia is just terrible. Thankfully, I’ve found ways to sleep better.

A quality bed. We’ve had a Tempurpedic mattress for the past 12 years. It’s helped our back troubles, which certainly affects quality of sleep, and overall is just so comfortable. If don’t think our style of mattress is right for everyone. My point is that it’s vital to find a sleeping surface that works for your body. Sleeping on the hand me down mattress, may be financially nice, but it could also be wreaking havoc on your body and your sleep. Also, we’ve found that sharing covers wakes us so while John and I sleep in the same bed, we do have our own covers.
Consistent bed time. This one is hard for me to focus on but I do try. My goal is to fall asleep by 11pm so that I know I can get a full 8 hours before the kids start making noise. Even on days when I can sleep in, they’re chatter wakes me and puts me in a state on non-restful sleep.
Personal Comfort. Do you ever consider what you’re wearing for bed time? I sleep so much better with lightweight PJ pants and a short sleeve t-shirt. Your legs, have you recently shaved? My comfort increases greatly when I’ve just shaved. Have I recently washed my hair, brushed my teeth, etc. being clean makes a difference (and I know sometimes in depression we take care of our bodies less often.)
Calming activities. I find that I like to read to relax before sleep. I know John likes to relax playing games on his iPad. However, I know some people suggest not using screens before bed, so it’s best to figure out what is right for you, and what is most calming to you.
Help from a Doctor. It is more than OK to reach out to a doctor if you’re having trouble sleeping. I’ve worked with my doctor for many years figuring out the proper medications for my mental illness. It’s always a work in progress, but one thing we focus on is making sure to include sleep help. Those meds are invaluable on days my insomnia threatens to strike. There are also some supplements that help but it’s best to check with your doctor.

Which brings me to my next affirmation …