Anxiety is a debilitating feeling of nervousness and worry that can disrupt our daily functioning and cause a lot of distress. These sensations are experienced by all of us at some point in our lives when we get stressed out.
To a certain extent, these feelings are very normal and good for us as they motivate us to perform well in all aspects of our life. But when these feelings go beyond a particular level, they can be pathological and render you incapable of performing any task.
When anxiety lingers on for longer than usual then it starts to interfere with your sleep. Neverending worries and doubts cloud your mind, making it very difficult for you to fall asleep.
Sleep anxiety can include anticipatory anxiety before going to sleep as well, this includes having negative thoughts and distress associated with sleep. This could have a drastic effect on their routines and sleeping patterns causing insomnia where both the quality and quantity of sleep are hampered.
Anxiety also causes disturbing dreams reinforcing the negative beliefs around going to sleep. There is also strong evidence that lack of sleep can instigate or worsen your anxiety, and hence sleep deprivation is not only a symptom but also a cause for anxiety.
Insomnia is a sleeping disorder where you have trouble falling or staying asleep. This condition can be acute or chronic depending on the period a person suffers for; it could be 1 night to a few weeks or 3 nights a week for a few months.
It is also known as adjustment insomnia as it involves having a brief episode of difficulty in sleeping. This is generally caused by the stressful events of life such as losing loved ones, major life changes, cessation of drugs, etc. Acute insomnia generally lasts for less than three months and the symptoms fade as the individual learns to cope with their situation.
However, if acute insomnia is left untreated, the likelihood of developing chronic insomnia and other complications that are associated with this condition increases manifold. Women are more susceptible to it than men, especially during pregnancy and menopause.
Insomnia that lasts for 3 nights a week for three months or more is termed as chronic. It also has several reasons such as irregular sleep schedules, poor sleep hygiene, persistent nightmares, mental health disorders, underlying physical or neurological problems, medications, a bed partner with sleep apnea or other problems, and certain other sleep disorders.
Further research showed that sleeping problems shared a bidirectional relationship with other health issues. Furthermore, insomnia triggered by other health conditions doesn’t always go away once the issue is resolved. Because of a cascade of factors that cause insomnia, it is very difficult for the patients to narrow down one specific case.
Now, let’s talk about the ways to battle your insomnia. Following are some tips and lifestyle habits that you can inculcate into your routine to help you have restful sleep and feel energised every single morning, ready to take on the day:
If you are suffering from the symptoms of insomnia and sleep anxiety for the past few months, then you may have to see your doctor. Treating insomnia involves two main goals; increasing the quality and duration of sleep and reducing the symptoms experienced during the daytime. Once diagnosed with Chronic Insomnia, you may opt for cognitive behavioural therapy for the purpose of treatment. It may involve processes like stimulus-control, sleep restriction and compression, and relaxation techniques to help you manage sleep anxiety. Moreover, education for sleep and hygiene may also help. Learning about healthy sleep patterns and understanding why you experience insomnia symptoms may reduce the chances of any relapse. Medications may also be prescribed such as benzodiazepines, melatonin agonists, orexin receptor agonists, and other over the counter drugs.
Insomnia is a grave health condition mostly overlooked by physicians as they do not go to the root of the matter and cover it up by sleeping pills. Thousands of people suffer from insomnia daily with the number increasing every day but people are becoming aware that it is hampering their daily life. It has a negative effect of their relationships, creativity, and workplace productivity causing the quality of their life to decline. If you think you’re suffering from this condition, you must contact a health professional immediately as early intervention and treatment make a lasting difference.
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