Why Going to Bed Mad is a Bad Idea

You’ve probably heard the old saying, “don’t go to bed mad.” Haven’t you? It’s usually the last thing we want to hear, but on some level, we might recognize it as a sensible piece of advice.

In the overall scheme of things, we probably don’t want to go to bed mad, let alone be mad at all. But what’s the deal? Is it just one of those things that people swear by for generations without investigating, or is there some truth to it?

Your friends at GR8NESS are all about relationship advice that’s backed by science. It turns out that saying has some science to back it up.

Put It Aside, Because Science Said So

The reasoning behind the claim is all about the way we tend to process and store information. A study investigating the association of memory concerning sleep proved to offer information as to what occurs when negative memories are experienced before bedtime, as well as the after-effects.

The study concluded that aversive memories or those that were triggering and unpleasant were harder to suppress after sleeping. Sleeping, in a sense, can work as a way to solidify the negative emotions and thoughts as opposed to alleviate or “water them down,” as some people might assume.

Insert another popular suggestion: “Just sleep on it.” Perhaps this is why people tend to offer this advice when there is a decision to be made as it causes the person to further process and ruminate.

What We Can Do About It

Advice-givers have it a lot easier than those receiving it. The truth is, it’s hard to set your pride and emotions aside, especially if all you want is to escape from the situation. Shifting the perspective of viewing sleep as a means to stop or pause the argument to a mindset that you are delving deeper might be able to ignite some change.

All about Communication

Find ways to communicate effectively, set and respect boundaries, and if all else fails—agree that you’ll be civil until you can find a time to resolve the issue. If the issue is not related to another person, then find ways to settle it with yourself.

This can be done with affirmations, self-care, or meditation. Care for yourself and channel your inner peace into finding a resolution to your conflicts.