“We must begin with thanksgiving for everything. The beginning of joy is to be content with your situation”
St Ambrose of Optina
Glory be To God for this blessed season of Great Lent that brings us hope and joy during these challenging times. I’m praying all are well and able to have strength and patience.
These are stressful times, and studies have shown that one out of three people are experiencing anxiety, stress and or depression. One important part of being healthy and helping to avoid stress is getting enough sleep. Some helpful hints in maintaining healthy habits is understanding that sleep is not a luxury or a waste of time but a priority in order to maintain good health.
As it’s been shown, sleep deprived people tend to focus on negative stimuli and struggle with even minor challenges. As when one gets enough sleep our whole outlook changes and we become more positive and resilient and are able to cope with stress. Other issues with sleep deprivation are ongoing issues with the eyes, such as dry eyes. Truly sleep deprivation can affect one entire system such as cardiac problems. It has been shown that getting less than 6 hours of sleep a night can contribute to hypertension. Also, there are concerns of our immune system being affected by our sleep. A good night’s sleep is considered paramount to maintaining a healthy immune system. While we rest, our body goes to work producing cytokines, which are proteins that ultimately help one’s immune system and fight off infections. Often, when one is sleep deprived, we’re more likely to catch a cold or the flu and have a harder time recovering. Making sure you get the rest you need will help strengthen your immune system!
Other important areas of a good night sleep are one’s productivity, as adequate sleep has a direct correlation to increased concentration and cognitive function. When your sleep is inadequate, you wake up feeling tired or find that in the afternoon, your energy lags. The recommended amount is seven to nine hours of sleep. It’s also recommended that if you continue to have issues with adequate sleep there are a number of successful treatments available that your healthcare provider can assist with.
Another area is rest deprivation, this is an area identified by researcher and physician Dr Sandra Dalton-Smith. There is, as just discussed, physical rest but also she named other categories such as mental rest. At night, when one might be experiencing racing thoughts and is unable to fall asleep, writing them down is a way of releasing them from our mind and may help with relaxation.
We also need emotional rest, being able to express your thoughts and feelings, as opposed to suppressing them to please others can be exhausting. Think about social interactions…this is another area where you may need to evaluate which relationships give you energy and which are draining your energy.
Another modern day phenomenon is sensory rest. We have constant sensory overload with TV’s, phones, computers etc. which can collectively add to feelings of anxiety and agitation. One method to rest is to set aside a period of time without electronics during the day.
Another area is creative rest. Like they say, take some time to stop and smell the roses! Relax and take a walk to appreciate the beautiful world our Lord has blessed us with. Dr Dalton-Smith’s research also states there’s a category of spiritual rest. Spiritually, as Orthodox Christians, we have this wonderful, blessed Orthodoxy to guide us on our often-difficult life journey. This research highlights that we are indeed part of something bigger than ourselves.
Please find time to get the rest you need. And as always, if you feel any differences in your health, please contact your healthcare provider. I still remember when taking the CPR class the first question is what’s the first response to a heart attack, it’s denial. So please take care of yourselves, we are God’s blessed creation.
Pray all have a glorious Pascha!
Christ is Risen – Truly He is Risen
In Christ,
Elizabeth Ashton, RN
Information on sleep from Meir Kryger professor of medicine at Yale and author of The Mystery of Sleep
