Up at Night: Sleep Anxiety Disorder

Feeling so tired but can’t sleep a wink? You’re probably having a sleep anxiety disorder. Read on to find out more about it and how you can prevent and overcome it.

It is the most frustrating feeling in the world. After a full and tiring day, you plop into your bed, ready to drop. Your bones ache, your eyes feel heavy. You wait one, two, three, ten minutes. Sleep eludes you. You turn on your side and shut your eyes once again. Fifteen minutes pass, then thirty. You start counting sheep. You think about the most boring things. You look at the clock and almost cry with frustration. It is past midnight and you have not had a minute of shut-eye. And you have to wake up early tomorrow.

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Sleep anxiety disorder. Some people have it occasionally, at times when they are extra stressed or nervous about something. Other people battle it almost every night, tossing and turning in bed as the night wanes and morning breaks. Because sleep is crucial to the human body and you need it in order to function at your best during the day, losing sleep is a very serious thing. Thus, the first tip about dealing with sleep anxiety disorder: do not ignore it. If you notice that your sleepless nights are becoming more and more frequent, it is best to seek the advice of your physician.

In order to prevent or overcome this disorder, one must first understand it. As its name suggests, the sleeplessness is triggered by anxiety. This anxiety can come from a variety of reasons: work, money, family, relationships, etc. The key thing here is to clear away anxious thoughts before bedtime. How?

The first thing you can do is to let your body know that it is now time to rest. It would be good if you could engage in exercise or a good work out during the day, so that your energy will be spent at night. Right before you go to sleep, indulge yourself in calming activities. This means no more working or exciting movies. Take a long bubble bath. Drink a cup of chamomile tea. Stay away from caffeinated drinks. Read a light, no-brainer book. Dim the lights. Set the stage for sleep.

In the occasion that you’ve done all of the above and you still find yourself wide awake, don’t panic. Panicking will only agitate you further. Cut yourself some slack. Relax. Don’t look at the clock. Stop tossing and turning. Don’t entertain the frustrated feeling. Just lay back and rest. You can even sit up and read a little. Sleep will come eventually. But it will not come if you’re all frustrated and crying. The important thing is to train your body to rest at night and be up and about in the morning.

Taking sleeping pills must be the last resort when it comes to dealing with sleep anxiety disorder. If you are considering taking it, get the blessing of your doctor first. It pays to be safe.

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