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How our sleep cycle plays a role in Anxiety and Depression

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There's no denying a good night's sleep is important for physical health. While you're getting that all-important shut-eye, your body is restoring itself and preparing for the following day.

While the relationship between sleep and mental health is more complex, there may be good news for early birds when it comes to sleep, anxiety and depression. Read on to learn more about the potential link between mental health and sleep.

Sleep, anxiety and depression

We all know that a poor night's sleep can leave you feeling tired, groggy, and impatient for that morning coffee. Yet adding to this, not getting enough sleep may also affect your concentration, motivation and mood the next day, making you more irritable than usual.

Medibank data shows concerning mental health trends in Australia, with anxiety, stress and depression all increasing year-on-year since 2007. Some research suggests that sleep deprivation may contribute to major depression, and scientists have even found a physical link between the areas of the brain that handle sleep and depression.

The risk of depression also appears to increase with age during adolescence, with early sleep problems often leading to depression later in life. With the incidence of anxiety and depression shown to be more than twice as high among those suffering from sleep disorders, the importance of sleep is hard to ignore.

MORE: Does your child have a sleeping problem?

How sleep cycles work

Many of your body's functions are regulated by the brain's own internal clock, which helps guide heart rate, blood pressure, temperature and brain activity.

This cycle is known as the circadian rhythm, monitoring light exposure and using the information to trigger a brain chemical called melatonin which tells your body when it's time to sleep. Other brain chemicals take over during the day to help keep you awake.

Is getting up early good for you?

If your lifestyle or occupation puts you out of whack with your body's natural circadian rhythm, it may put you at risk of health problems, both physical and mental.

A recent study looking at sleep-wake patterns amongst middle-to-older aged women found significant evidence that those who went to bed early and wake early are at the lowest risk of developing depression, compared to those in the intermediate and late sleep-wake groups.

Further research on people with type 2 diabetes also suggests a link to poor sleep quality, with those living with the condition more likely to experience higher rates of insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness, and higher use of sleeping medications. Meanwhile, up to 50% of those with the type 2 diabetes are also thought to experience mental illness.

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Could waking up early be good for your mental health? | Live Better

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There's no denying a good night's sleep is important for physical health. While you're getting that all-important shut-eye, your body is restoring itself and preparing for the following day. While the relationship between sleep and mental health is more complex, there may be good news for early birds when it comes to sleep, anxiety and depression.

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How to Wake Up Early - And Not be Miserable

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5 reasons to wake up early, even if you hate it

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5 reasons to wake up early, even if you hate it

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Sleeping in is one of life's great pleasures.

But too much sleeping in makes you more likely to have a bad night's sleep, have negative thoughts during the day, and in some cases, develop depression.

Here are some benefits to being an early bird.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

They say the early bird catches the worm.

And several successful people seem to be proving that adage true, from to Apple CEO Tim Cook, who famously wakes up before 4 a.m. each day.

For many of us, on the other hand, there's no greater pleasure than sleeping in, staying in bed, and not getting up until you absolutely have to.

But as it turns out, there may be more merit to getting up early.

If you struggle to be up with the birds and consider yourself more of a night owl, here's why you should ditch the snooze button and start getting up earlier in the morning. It might just change your life.

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5 reasons to wake up early, even if you hate it

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Sleeping in is one of life's great pleasures. But too much sleeping in makes you more likely to have a bad night's sleep, have negative thoughts during the day, and in some cases, develop depression. Here are some benefits to being an early bird. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.