While experts agree that self-care can help reduce stress and boost energy, what happens when it goes too far? As the role of technology in mental health progresses, more trends emerge, one of them being bed rotting. Bed rotting refers to a popular trend that started on TikTok. It involves staying in bed for extended periods – but not to sleep. It is to do passive things like eat, watch tv, or scroll through social media.
The trend is otherwise referred to as the bed-rotting Gen Z trend, which applies to members of Generation Z who feel burnt out from work, school, or family demands, or even from social engagements. Because of this trend's increasing popularity, our experts are diving deeper into what bed rotting is and how it impacts mental health.
Pros of Bed Rotting for Mental Health
Bed rotting meaning equates to staying in bed all day for extended periods. While this isn’t generally recommended as a long-term approach for mental health, short-term bed rotting can be beneficial in some cases. Here are a few ways that bed rotting can benefit mental health:
- Coping with grief or loss: Spending some time resting in bed can offer a safe space to process emotions and find comfort after the loss of a loved one or another major life event.
- Managing mental health symptoms: Staying in bed can offer a sense of security, calmness, and a safe space where individuals with severe anxiety, depression, or other mental health crises can cope with their symptoms.
- Practicing self-care: Taking a day to rest in bed can be an act of self-care, allowing oneself to take a break from the demands and stress of daily life.
- Regulating overstimulation: In some cases, especially for people with sensory processing issues or certain mental health disorders, retreating to bed can help them regulate sensory input and reduce overwhelming stimuli.
- Rest and recovery: After experiencing physical or emotional exhaustion or injury, resting in bed can be beneficial for recovery. This is especially true after a period of intense stress, illness, or significant life changes.
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Cons of Bed Rotting for Mental Health
If you have ever had a day when you wanted to just “rot in bed,” you are not the only one. However, while rest and relaxation are essential for overall well-being, excessive bed rest and going long periods without doing physical activity can have several repercussions on mental health:
- Anxiety: Being inactive and withdrawn from daily activities can worsen anxiety. Prolonged “bed rotting” can contribute to anxiety about getting out of bed and facing the world.
- Cognitive decline: Lack of mental stimulation and engagement in activities and socializing can result in cognitive decline and reduced overall cognitive functioning.
- Depression: Isolation and lack of engagement with the outside world can lead to feelings of loneliness, sadness, and hopelessness, which can contribute to or worsen depression and anxiety.
- Impact on daily life: Staying in bed all day can disrupt daily routines, resulting in poor hygiene, irregular eating habits, and neglect of responsibilities, all of which can further impact mental health.
- Lack of achievement: A lack of productivity and accomplishment due to inactivity can negatively impact self-esteem and self-worth.
- Reduced physical activity: Prolonged bed rest can also decrease physical strength and fitness, which can contribute to feelings of lethargy and negative mood.
- Rumination: Being alone with one's thoughts for an extended period can lead to excessive rumination, allowing negative thoughts and worries to become overwhelming and difficult to manage.
- Sleep disruptions: Paradoxically, staying in bed too long can lead to disrupted sleep patterns, disrupting the body’s circadian rhythm and making it difficult to fall and stay asleep.
- Social isolation: Remaining in bed for extended periods can lead to social withdrawal, resulting in reduced contact with loved ones and social support networks. This isolation can further contribute to mental illness.
It's important to remember that while short periods of staying in bed can offer some mental health benefits, prolonged bed rest can lead to negative consequences, such as the ones listed above. Therefore, balance is crucial to ensure that “rotting in bed” doesn't become a regular or long-term habit that can impact daily functioning and overall mental well-being.
If you or someone you know needs to stay in bed frequently for mental health reasons, it’s time to seek support from a mental health professional. Professionals - such as the teams at our Banyan rehab locations - can help identify underlying issues, develop healthier coping strategies, and create a comprehensive plan to improve your mental health and overall well-being. Our experts incorporate therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and group counseling to address our clients’ underlying issues and help them develop healthier coping strategies.
For more information about our mental health program, call Banyan Treatment Centers today at 888-280-4763 or contact us online. Our admission specialists are ready to help.
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