Last night you didn't sleep a wink, and today you feel cranky, even mentally distressed. Things that wouldn't have usually bothered you can feel heavy, irritating and gray. It feels like the world is stacked against you.
And if one night becomes a few, mental instability can grow and, in some cases, become untenable. According to experts, it's mainly because our brains depend on sleep for basic upkeep, and when we don't get enough, it causes our systems to malfunction.
Read More: The Importance of Sleep for Your Body
Our mental health is largely based on what happens to our brains while we sleep, says neurologist and sleep medicine physician Jeffrey Durmer. After a good night's rest, we "repackage" neurochemicals like dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine and melatonin back into neurons in the brain so that we can use them the next day. These chemicals in the brain are associated with both ...
