Insomnia has multiple underlying reasons. Despite the cause, it’s a disorder that can suck the life out of the healthiest people. After all, lack of sleep can adversely affect your mind and body.
Most of the time, we ignore the factors that lead to insomnia. And one of the leading reasons behind this is Sleep Anxiety.
Yes, insomnia can sometimes be an anxiety-induced sleeping disorder where people undergo disturbing changes in their sleep cycle, which hardens into short or long-lasting insomnia.
Anxiety is perhaps the most ignored condition that needs our immediate attention. The disease renders us breathless and panicky and is also the leading cause of health anomalies.
Insomnia and other sleep-related issues are only the tip of the iceberg. If ignored for long, this becomes a vicious cycle of ailments your body has to endure.
Keep reading this post on anxiety-related insomnia by Sweet Island Dreams to learn more about it and how to get rid of it.
How Is Anxiety Related To Sleep?
Anxiety is a natural reflection of all life changes in all humans. A little fear is valid and justified. But if it solidifies and becomes chronic, our body releases hormones that keep us fidgety and alert.
The same hormones would kickstart rapid eye movement hindering your sleep. Similarly, it messes up your thyroid levels, depriving you of relaxed sleep. All of this, when combined, is labeled as sleep anxiety.
How Do We Recognise Anxiety Induced Insomnia?
Sleep Anxiety or Anxiety Induced Insomnia isn’t challenging to identify. The first sign is always the lack of sleep which gets worse. Take a look at these symptoms that you might often find in a person with sleep anxiety:
- Mind racing and recurring thoughts
- The fear of losing out on sleep and work
- Lethargic body and a sense of dullness
- Mood swings and rapid outbursts
- Lack of appetite
- Inability to get through the day
- Fidgety body and disturbing thoughts
What’s The Solution?
Anxiety-related insomnia’s most prominent solution is seeking help for the anxiety part of the problem. Talking about your fears and working towards healing should be the first step towards a healthier way of leaving.
As you can see, the first step will take time and is a gradual process. But, fixing your sleep is our immediate concern. Therefore, below are five expert tips to improve anxiety-induced insomnia and get your good night’s sleep back.
Fix One Sleeping Schedule
Anxiety’s most significant impact on anyone is the person losing a sense of order. This lack of a routine can affect your sleep in the worst way possible. And if you end up having insomnia due to this, the first step to undo that is getting a proper sleeping schedule.
Plan your activities throughout the day so that by the time it’s your sleeping time, you are tucked well on your bed, ready to sleep. Slowly, you will notice the sleep coming back at the same time.
Meditation Can Help with Concentration
REM needs an anchor that holds your thoughts in one place. Meditation helps you improve your concentration and can be an excellent grounding technique for those with sleep anxiety.
Exert Your Body By Exercising
Tiring your body to sleep is one way to get good sleep too. So, if your sleep anxiety is taking over, you can consider exercising every day to get a relaxed sleep. Find some exercises you can do or stick to workouts like brisk walking, jogging, cycling, etc.
Try Music For Keeping Your Mind At Ease
Anxiety leads to recurring thoughts that you need to get away, even for a short while, to sleep. For this, your favorite calming music, ASMR audios, or slow podcasts could help. Find what’s your type and start listening to it before going to bed.
Cut Down On Screen Time
Cutting down the town, you spend on screen is a remarkable feat. The extra screen time stresses you out and wears your eyes and mind.
Contrary to popular belief, watching even soothing videos before bed doesn’t work if you have exhausted your eyes. Make it a habit to leave your phone on your bed stand an hour before you plan to go to bed.
Conclusion
Sleep occupies a substantial portion of our life. It is as important as other body functions. Hence, dealing with sleep anxiety is very important to keep us going. Follow these methods and make some positive life changes so that you get to keep your precious sleep time safe and sound.
