Sleeping problems due to mental health

Many of us suffer with trying to keep a healthy sleeping pattern. Many of us just overlook this and think nothing of the situation, but this can be much more of a problem than you think.

  I have always had a problem with my sleeping as a child, like being excited on Christmas Eve or Halloween, as I’m a massive Halloween fanatic. I thought this would stop by the time I finished high school but I was wrong. Some nights I can have a brilliant night’s sleep but most of the nights are awful to try and fall asleep. Tossing and turning, trying to get comfortable, it’s a pain in the neck! 

I wanted to solve this problem as it was draining me and I couldn’t enjoy a full day out without yawning and just feeling so down in the dumps. I felt like a zombie, dragging myself around with my friends. So what did I do to solve this issue? I made a doctor’s appointment for the next day as I couldn’t take it anymore feeling like this, I wanted to have my energetic self back! Having my cheshire cat smile on my face whilst I made awful jokes to my family but I couldn’t even do that as I was that tired.

When I saw my doctor they done some quick tests and he said to me that it’s due to my mental wellbeing. As I have been suffering with Bulimia Nersova for many years the doctor narrowed it down to that physical mental illness that I had been diagnosed with.
  The doctor explained to me that Bulimia Nervosa was draining me and taking all my energy away from my physical self. As I am eating my body thinks that it’s being fed but then with Bulimia Nervosa you go straight to the toilet after eating then you purge, so basically bring all you just ate back up. Which is not healthy at all! You are tricking your mind and body into thinking it’s being fed when in reality you are starving yourself! 

So, as I have been suffering with Bulimia for many years, this has had a negative affect on my body and mind physically and mentally. The doctor put it in the most simplest way possible for me to understand properly, ‘As the body and mind are not getting the fuel it needs this makes the mind confused on what to do. Going to sleep at night needs you to have concentration and the control of relaxation so you can fall soundly asleep’. 
But as I’m not getting that, the mind is overthinking and basically crying out as it’s starving. This can have the same effect on the body too; having aches and pains, 

•                                                                             Seizures,
•                                                                             Confusion,
•                                                                             Blackouts,
•                                                                             Heart palpitations and much more!

The last thing the doctor said to me was “It’s down to you now Melissa, you got to gain that control back over your Bulimia Nervosa”. That hit me really hard if I’m honest and till this day it still makes me question myself ‘Why am I putting myself through this?’ 

Mental health can affect your sleeping pattern badly so I advise you to go and see your doctor or local hospital to find out more information and what support there is to help you get a good night's sleep!

Mel  ​