It's something we've known for a while, but now experts have confirmed our fears: sleep-deprived anger is a real thing, and it's not pretty
According to the Daily Mail, parents who suffer from sleep problems or spend too few hours in bed can become seething, aggressive and irrationally angry. Interviewing mothers and speaking to experts, who've dubbed the behaviour 'slanger', they discovered that beyond being grumpy the effects of a bad night's kip can lead to family problems, too.
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Dr Irshaad Ebrahim, of the London Sleep Centre, says that too little sleep can actually also cause symptoms of depression.
He commented: 'Lack of sleep affects the body's ability to metabolise serotonin, a chemical in the brain that regulates our mood and energy, and when it's disrupted we experience symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as lethargy. Some people become withdrawn and quiet while others get irritable and angry.'
With children it's often hard to get the amount of sleep experts advise
So, what's the answer? The National Sleep Foundation recently revised its guidelines forhow much sleep we need, with adults between 26-64 requiring a solid 7-9 hours sleep. This, as we all know, is very nice in theory but the kids have other ideas...
How can I combat 'slanger'?
Sufferers of 'slanger' have reported needing up to 10 hours sleep a night
If you have trouble falling asleep it might be comforting to know that according to a survey by Slumberdown, 87 per cent of us Brits have struggled to get to sleep at some point, with a significant three quarters of us saying we wish we could get more of the precious stuff.
And for half of us, sleep deprivation has resulted in more than being a little sleepy, with 28 per cent of people saying it leads to rows with loved ones or work colleagues. So, could it be that nearly a third of the population is 'slangry'? Ouch.
Slumberdown's sleep expert Sammy Margo says, 'It is rather worrying that a third of us wish we could get more sleep then we currently do.'
She then goes on to make some super suggestions for sleep-inducing supper ideas
'There are also a range of snooze foods which contain high levels of Tryptophan which will help to promote a good night's sleep. They include bananas which are practically a "sleeping pill in a peel", turkey, almonds, oats, marmite type substances, dairy products and soya products.'
Who knew, eh?
Other ideas to help you fall asleep quickly
- Read before bed instead of scrolling through your phone. The screen-break is good for your eyes and will help settle your body down for a good night's sleep
- Try taking a bath before you hit the hay. Our body temperature naturally dips at night while we sleep. Raising it a little before hopping between the sheets causes a sharper drop in temperature which equals a more rapid sleep.
- Grab a cuddle from a loved one. Slumberdown's poll of 2000 people uncovered this as the 6th most likely thing to put us Brits to sleep. We like this one
- Try a sleep app. There are lots on the market now - from a soothing Scotsman to the sound of ocean waves. You never know what your key to sleep is until you try!
Do you think you suffer from 'slanger'? Let us know in the comments below. We'd love to hear your stories!
