Restlessness has a tendency to make people question their mental health. With signs like overthinking, jitteriness and sleeplessness, it is not surprising that a lot of people confuse being restless for something that might be a little more sinister.
A few years ago, I could not sleep a wink for a week straight. I have had problems with insomnia before, so that is the first place towards which my mind wandered off. To combat the problem, I consumed no caffeine, took to researching insomnia cures, and started exercising so I could ‘get tired,’ until I realised that I was waiting for an important mail from the office.
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Restlessness is different for each person
Restlessness is a feeling of needing to move constantly. It can look different for different people. Some people are unable to calm their minds, others are unable to calm their bodies and, for some, it’s a combination of the two.
There are moments when I can feel my mind racing, jumping from topic to topic. Sometimes, my leg bounces in tempo with the flow of my thoughts. At times, restlessness manifests itself via verbal diarrhoea and insomnia as well!
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However, these are just some of the many symptoms of restlessness. People have also reported experiencing hyperactivity, stress, increased heartbeat, agitation and anxiety, as well as cramps.
Why do we get restless?
Being restless and feeling agitated all the time might be a sign of something deeper, or point towards the way we live our lives. We live in a fast-paced world where we rush from one thing to the other without taking a pause. Restlessness might be a physical or mental expression of that lifestyle.
Bad sleep hygiene is also a big reason behind people becoming restless, especially at night. Nighttime restlessness leads to a skewed sleep schedule, headaches, fatigue, and more.
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The state of a person’s mental health can also be the reason behind their restlessness. Hormonal issues and psychological conditions can lead to uneasy feelings, and an urge to move constantly. It can also present itself as crankiness, nervousness or too much energy.
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How to cure restlessness
Restlessness manifests itself in different ways, and so, there are different solutions. Sometimes, a good night’s sleep can help you wake up without feeling agitated. Other times, you might need a more concentrated effort and the help of professionals to get back on track.
Even if falling asleep is hard, it is important to try to preserve the rituals that might help with the process. Eating dinner at a set time, brushing your teeth before sleeping, getting a good amount of time away from the screen—all of these help with managing sleeplessness and restlessness.
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Relaxing baths and massages can be a way to get away from the stress of daily life as well. Cutting back on caffeine is also a good idea! Meditation, yoga, exercise and some ‘me time’ have been known to help people. It depends on where your restlessness is coming from.
If none of these things work, it is always a good idea to see a professional and get an opinion from them.
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Restlessness and mental health
For the longest time, restlessness has manifested itself with symptoms that look suspiciously like mental health issues. Whenever I feel the jitters coming on, I have to wonder if I am anxious or just restless.
They’re pretty close to each other and might even feed into one another, which makes it a difficult task to separate and quantify the two. However, for me, restlessness was a good wake-up call. It forced me to think about my mental health more often and in an in-depth manner.
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With signs like insomnia and anxiety, I was forced to re-evaluate the stressors in my life. There are so many things that we have going on as working individuals—jobs, families, personal relationships, bills, and so much more.
With all the paraphernalia, we often tend to ignore ourselves. My racing mind and lack of sleep finally made me confront my mental health issues, and the places they might be stemming from. From taking ‘me’ time to trying meditation apps, like Headspace, helped me fix my routine and relax my mind.
It made me take care of myself!
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After years of uncertainty, I finally learnt that what I need to calm my racing thoughts is to take some time out every day, just for myself. In the end, restlessness, anxiety, and stress all come from a life that is too fast for our own good. Sometimes, it is good to take a moment and relax. This can do wonders for our mental health.
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