Sleep apnea impacts an estimated 22 million Americans. Symptoms of sleep apnea include daytime sleepiness (no matter how much sleep you got the night before), morning headaches, snoring, and irritability during the day. But one of the less-known side effects associated with sleep apnea is anxiety.
Some research shows a connection between sleep apnea and anxiety. While it isn’t exactly clear what causes the link between the two, some researchers suggest that the thought of your body stopping breathing while you sleep can cause significant stress and worry for some people. Additionally, chronic lack of sleep can lead to mood disorders, including increased anxiety and the inability to handle the daily stresses of life.
Fortunately, if you have anxiety related to sleep apnea, you may be able to ease both by wearing a CPAP at night. Here’s what you should know about treating sleep apnea and reducing your anxiety at the same time.
3 Ways to Reduce Stress With a CPAP Machine
When you buy the best CPAP mask for your personal needs, you can experience a lot of benefits. They include improved sleep health, better brain function, increased overall energy levels, and reduced risk of certain diseases. In relation to anxiety specifically, here are three ways using a CPAP machine can help reduce your stress.
- By improving your sleep quality
- By reducing the worry that you’ll stop breathing in the middle of the night
- By improving your mental health
As you wear your CPAP face mask consistently at night, you’ll experience a higher quality of sleep than you would without it. Your mind and body need quality sleep to function optimally. By improving your sleep quality, you’ll notice an improved outlook on life in general and will most likely struggle less with feelings of anxiety.
Wearing a CPAP mask also removes the worry that you’ll stop breathing in the middle of the night. The thought of not getting enough oxygen can cause a lot of stress for people affected by sleep apnea. Removing this worry can work wonders for your anxiety levels.
Finally, as you address your sleep apnea symptoms, you’ll likely notice improved mental health. This is because adequate sleep has been shown to improve mental health outcomes by restoring the function of your brain’s synapses. As the function of these synapses is restored, it helps to boost mental health.
No More Sleep Apnea Worries
No one should have to experience excessive stress or anxiety over their sleep apnea symptoms. If you’re ready to minimize your overall stress levels and experience a higher quality of life overall, invest in a good CPAP machine. You may find that a full-face CPAP mask works better for you, or you may discover that a nasal CPAP mask is more comfortable for you to wear at night.
Keep in mind that no matter which type of mask you choose, it will probably take you a few nights to get used to the feel of it on your face. Just be patient and realize that eventually, you’ll become more comfortable wearing the mask and you’ll soon start to experience its sleep improvement and anxiety-reduction benefits.