Dreading bedtime? Sleep anxiety can affect your sleep health

Sleep Anxiety

Are you having a hard time sleeping at night due to fear of what might happen while you’re asleep or what might happen if you don’t get enough sleep? If so, you might be dealing with sleep anxiety, also known as somniphobia or sleep phobia. 

Sleep anxiety results when the thought of going to bed causes severe fear. Getting a good amount of sleep each night is essential to your health, but if you have sleep anxiety, the thought of that is distressing.

What causes it?

Sleep anxiety is a type of performance anxiety. You might fear reoccurring nightmares, sleep apnea risks, the vulnerability that comes with being asleep, and even the fear of not getting enough sleep. All of these sleep anxiety concerns can leave you lying in bed for hours, not getting the sleep you need for a healthy lifestyle.

One of the biggest causes of sleep anxiety is insomnia, which affects nearly 30% of adults to some degree. It can also stem from sleep disorders such as sleep paralysis or nightmare disorder.  Another fear that causes sleep anxiety is being afraid of what could happen while asleep, including burglary, fire, or other disasters.

How do I help it?

Don’t let the fear of sleeping get in the way of getting the sleep you deserve. As you fall asleep or get ready to fall asleep, make sure you are practicing good sleep hygiene.  Allow your body time to wind down and relax before going straight to bed.

Try a sleep diary. Keeping a notebook beside your bed dedicated to thoughts, emotions, and sleep quality can help you better understand your sleep cycles and work towards healthier sleep. Taking the time and steps to improve your sleep can help with your sleep anxiety.

If your sleep anxiety is consuming how you function day-to-day, and you cannot fix it on your own, it might be time to seek help. FusionSleep® provides various sleeping solutions via onsite and virtual consultations. Get help now to get the better sleep you deserve. Contact us today on our website or by calling 678.990.3962.