In September of 2014, I had no problem sleeping. No guilt that I was staying in bed for too long. I had an excuse, pneumonia. It lingered for two months!
But why is it on “normal” days I can beat myself up over the fact that I need to go to bed earlier than my family?
For a person with a chronic illness getting sick can be so discouraging. You already function at a slower pace and feel the need to get more done. Add sickness on top of all that and you just feel like a wasted lump.
Despite our desire to shake it off and get on with life we need to allow time for sleep and healing.
Here are five reasons why sleep is critical…
1. As our bodies sleep our cells are completing much-needed repairs. Our hormones and immune system function at a different level than when we’re awake allowing them to calm, regulate, and heal. Without the added rest our immune system won’t be able to fight sickness and we’ll find we’re even more susceptible to further illness.
2. Body tissue is nurtured during sleep. When the tissues aren’t given enough time to repair inflammation occurs. Research indicates that people who get less than six hours of sleep per night have a higher level of inflammatory proteins in their blood than those who get more.
3. Our risk of certain cancers, heart attack, stroke, and type 2 diabetes is increased in as little as one hour of lost sleep a night.
4. Your physical and mental performance will suffer without adequate sleep. Memory loss begins, your ability to make decisions is impaired, and reflexes are negatively impacted. Our ability to cope with stress is also diminished and that can lead to problems in our relationships as well as increased depression.
5. During sleep, serotonin is released which, among other things, helps to decrease pain.
Please, allow yourself to get enough sleep according to the needs of your body and your illness.
Also, I know how discouraging getting sick can be when you’re already ill. But in order to regain the best quality of life possible, we have to allow ourselves extra sleep to facilitate healing!
How many hours of sleep do you try to get each night?
