No one enjoys a sleepless night or an interrupted snooze, but new research suggests that disrupted sleep and sleep loss could have numerous negative impacts on mental health.
A recent study by the Universities of York and East Anglia in the United Kingdom shows that depriving healthy participants of sleep disrupts their ability to keep intrusive memories at bay, which could have implications for a range of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The role of memory suppression
The study found that participants who had undergone a sleepless night had less activation of the region of the brain associated with emotional regulation and the inhibition of intrusive thoughts when asked to recall unpleasant memories.
By contrast, well-rested participants had higher activity in this brain region and less activity in the hippocampus, which is associated with memory recall.
The researchers explained that this suggested that well-rested participants were better able to restrict unwanted memories – a function called “memory suppression.” Conversely, this function was impaired in the brains of participants who had spent a sleepless night.
Study co-author Marcus Harrington, PhD, a lecturer in psychology at the University of East Anglia who specializes in sleep, memory, emotion and mental health, says: “Memories of unpleasant experiences can intrude into conscious awareness, often in response to reminders.
“While such intrusive memories are an occasional and momentary disturbance for most people, they can be recurrent, vivid and upsetting for individuals suffering from mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.”
Benefits of sleep
The study’s authors also suggested that the fact that sleep deprivation appears to affect the ability to suppress intrusive memories and possibly other intrusive thoughts could have important implications for mood disorders like depression and anxiety and conditions like PTSD.
“Given that memories play a central role in our affective perception of the external world, memory control failures may go a long way towards explaining the relationship between sleep loss and emotional dysregulation,” they said.
“A better understanding of the mechanisms that [lead to] intrusive memories is vital to improving emotional wellbeing and reducing the global burden of mental illness,” Dr Harrington said.
Tips for getting a good night’s sleep
Here are five useful tips for getting a good – or better – night's sleep:
Stick to a consistent sleep schedule: Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day – even on weekends – to regulate your body’s internal clock.
Limit screen time before bed: Avoid phones, tablets, and laptops at least an hour before sleep. The blue light can suppress melatonin, the hormone that helps you sleep.
Create a wind-down routine: Do something relaxing in the hour before bed – like reading, stretching, or listening to calming music – to signal to your brain that it’s time to sleep.
Keep your bedroom cool, dark, and quiet: Ideal sleep environments are typically 16–18°C, with minimal noise and light. Blackout curtains and white noise machines can help.
Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and heavy meals late in the day: These can disrupt your sleep cycle or cause fragmented, restless sleep.
How Flourish Australia can help
If you are concerned about any mental health symptoms you are experiencing, talk to your GP or health professional. Flourish Australia are leaders in complex mental health support, and a registered NDIS provider. Contact us on 1300 779 270 for a confidential chat and we will connect you with the right support for your needs, near you.
Talk to us today
For more information, contact us on 1300 779 270 or make an enquiry now.
