When it comes to getting a good night's rest, having a sleep disorder or an anxiety disorder creates a vicious circle. According to the Anxiety Disorder Association of America, a sleep disorder, such as insomnia, can produce anxiety about sleeping, which in turn causes you to sleep less. On the flip side, having an anxiety disorder can consistently disrupt sleep, thus producing insomnia. Either way, your sleep anxiety isn't giving you enough sleep, and insufficient sleep can negatively impact your physical and mental health. By discovering the cause your sleep anxiety, you can receive treatment for it and start sleeping well again.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a general feeling of worry that is unrelated to any specific concern or that is out of proportion to a particular situation. Anxiety suffers may experience sudden feelings of panic for no apparent reason or may be unable to stop obsessive thoughts or worries from consuming their minds. These feelings can cause a person to be unable to fall asleep or disrupt sleep. You may be able to treat anxiety with natural remedies such as meditation, exercise or by avoiding caffeine and alcohol, both of which can trigger feelings of anxiety. However, if you are a chronic anxiety sufferer, you may need stronger treatment, such as psychotherapy or medication.
Stress
According to the Better Sleep Council, 65 percent of Americans are losing sleep due to stress. When stressed, you may feel as if your mind won't stop whirling or buzzing, even when you're trying to fall asleep. The website MindTools suggests combating stress-related sleep anxiety by writing down your thoughts and worries in a notebook before going to bed and firmly telling yourself that you will deal the problems in the morning.
Depression
Depression is a common cause of sleep anxiety disorder. Depression is a medical illness characterized by persistent feelings of unhappiness, despair or emptiness. Depressed individuals may suffer from numerous forms of sleep anxiety, including having difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep and poor-quality sleep. If you suspect your sleep anxiety is related to depression, you should seek medical advice from a qualified physician. A doctor can help you gain control your depression with therapy and drug treatment.
