Your Immune System

The Answers to Stress

Stress Relief Aids

Symptoms of Chronic Stress

What is PTSD?

Stress and Carbohydrates

Diets to Reduce Stress

Exercise and Stress Reduction

Sleeps Effects on Stress

Meditation For Stress

Stress Reduction Breathing

Yoga for Stress Relief

Adaptogens for Stress

Stress over 40

Stress Reading List

Sleep and it’s importance in stress reduction

As mundane as it sounds, sleep is an important way of reducing stress
and allowing the body to recover from tension.

Chronically stressed patients almost all suffer from fatigue (in some cases resulting from stress-induced insomnia), and people who are tired do not cope well with stressful situations. These dynamics can create a vicious cycle. When distressed patients get more sleep, they feel better and are more resilient and adaptable in dealing with day-to-day events. Most people know what their usual sleep requirement is (the range is five to 10 hours per night; the average being seven to eight), but a surprisingly large percentage of the population is chronically sleep deprived.

Try going to bed 30 to 60 minutes earlier and monitor the results after a few days or a week. If you are still tired, then try a bedtime 30 minutes earlier than this. Eventually, you’ll find what works for you. The three criteria of success are waking refreshed, good daytime energy and waking naturally without an alarm.
Sleeping-in is fine but if you sleep too long, it throws off your body rhythms during the following day. It is better to go to bed earlier.

Daytime naps are an interesting phenomenon. They can be valuable if they are short and timed properly (i.e., not in the evening). The "power nap" or catnap is a short sleep (five to 20 minutes) that can be rejuvenating. A nap lasting more than 30 minutes can make you feel groggy. Beyond these cautionary notes, sleep can be key in reducing stress and helping patients cope and function better.