Sleep Anxiety
Dealing With Sleep Anxiety Disorders
Those who have not suffered from sleep anxiety disorders often have a hard time understanding why some people do, just as many cannot understand why others are affected with bouts of depression. There's a common belief that it's all in the mind of the affected person, and if they just thought positive thoughts, they'd snap out of it.
Certainly, if you are thinking pleasant thoughts and positive thoughts at bedtime the changes of getting a good night's sleep are improved, but a person suffering with any of several sleep anxiety disorders doesn't have full control of their thought process. Control is an important word here. A disorder of this type usually means that the person affected can't really keep thoughts, emotions, or negative feelings about themselves or the world in general under tight control.
Almost all of us at one time or another experience a sleepless night, or one nearly so, because of a thought or worry that keeps running through our mind and simply won't go away. Often, we'll awaken in the morning and realize that our worries were either unjustified, or simply overblown. A person having a sleep anxiety disorder may have these experiences often, seemingly unable to bring the condition to a halt.
Cause And Effect Not Always Clear - A sleep anxiety disorder is a kind of a chicken and egg thing. Other anxieties or anxiety disorders, an obsessive-compulsive behavior disorder for example, may bring on a sleep anxiety disorder. Or a sleep anxiety disorder can cause another anxiety disorder to develop. At times it can be difficult to distinguish between cause and effect. A lack of sleep over a period of time can bring on feelings on anxiety and depression and vice versa. A sleep anxiety disorder is no different than an obsessive compulsive disorder in that both are real medical issues with very real symptoms, that may respond well to treatment, or may not. To complicate matters, medications which are sometimes prescribed to treat anxiety disorders can interfere with a person's ability to get a good night's sleep, and eventually lead to a sleep anxiety disorder.
Maybe A Trigger, Maybe Not - In general it's considered a good idea to confront whatever worries are thought to be a trigger as far as sleep problems are concerned. Avoiding the triggers is usually impossible and often will make the problem worse. This gets back to the "it's all in the mind" approach, which really doesn't work either. To make things even more complicated, many who suffer from a sleep anxiety disorder, one symptom being a middle of the night panic attack, have no idea what the trigger or triggers might be that cause the symptoms. In point of fact, there may be no triggers, it’s a disorder.
Sleep Anxiety Treatment - The treatment of sleep anxiety often requires the help of a professional, and such help should certainly be sought if the disorder is beginning to cause problems. There are no sure-fire home remedies, but there are things that can be done to help avoid problems in the first place or to assist in their treatment. Healthy living practices, including healthy food and a good program of exercise can help, as can certain relaxation regimens such as meditation, yoga, and deep breathing exercises. Music can play a vital role, either soft, soothing music or simply the type of music the individual likes best. While trying to avoid a hectic life style may help, one shouldn't withdraw and move into a cave. Volunteer work and helping others can often work miracles. Learning to relax and keep busy at the same time may seem a challenge, but it's doable. Just remember that sleep anxiety disorders are just that, disorders, and never hesitate to bring a professional into the picture.