Getting a good night's sleep is essential to health.
Deprivation of sleep can cause irritability and general lowering of performance and reaction times and puts a strain on the immune system.
Most of us have had the odd night where we couldn't get to sleep for worrying about something such as an impending exam or special event, and the occasional poor night's sleep does not do us any harm.
Imagine though how you would feel if this went on for a long time- you would be physically and mentally exhausted.
Unfortunately this is the situation of many people throughout the western world.
It is estimated that, for example, at least 40 million people in the United States of America suffer from chronic, long-term sleep disorders.
Stress and anxiety are one of the main causes of sleep disorders Sleeps disorders are conditions characterised by abnormal sleep patterns that interfere with normal physical, mental or emotional function.
Anxiety can cause a serious lack of sleep, whether it be due to not being able to get off to sleep (insomnia), intermittent waking, or waking up much too early in the morning.
Anxiety disorders are a group of conditions caused by stress and worry and noted for the disproportionate amount of worry felt.
They include generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and certain phobias.
Anxiety disorder can certainly lead to sleep disorder, and, to a certain extent, the reverse is also true since a lack of sleep seems to stimulate the part of the brain most closely associated with depression and anxiety.
It is best to check for any medical conditions that may contribute to a sleep disorder or anxiety disorder, and also to help determine which is the primary condition, i.
e.
is anxiety causing lack of sleep or is insomnia causing anxiety? Often it seems that anxiety is the prime cause, but then difficulty sleeping adds to the anxiety.
If you suspect you have a sleep disorder you should see a primary care physician or a mental health professional, or visit a clinic that specialises in sleep disorders.
There is a slight social stigma attached to the phrase "mental health" but this should not deter you from seeking help - the health of the mind is just as important as that of the body.
Treatment of anxiety disorder then often helps with sleep problems as well.
Treatment options include increasing exercise, relaxation and meditation techniques, cognitive behavioural therapy, and medication.
Exercise has been shown to improve people's mood in general as it leads to the production of endorphins, the brains natural chemicals that make you feel good.
Counselling involves talking trough your problems with a trained therapist, and helps straightaway by just getting your worries out in the open and having someone to talk to.
Even better is that the person has dealt with these problems before and can help you dispense with negative thoughts and alter your whole mind set.
This may take a few sessions though.
Medication is usually carried out by prescribing tranquillisers, commonly of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor type.
These help to raise levels of serotonin in the brain which is thought to be helpful in beating depression and anxiety.
There are other tranquillisers that can be useful although none are really advised for long term use.
This is the case also for sleeping tablets, as you may find you need increasing doses to get off to sleep after a while and they are addictive so it becomes difficult to reduce their use.
Anxiety sleep disorder is a complex group of inter-related factors causing both anxiety and sleep disturbance but can certainly be overcome so that a sufferer can return to a normal way of life.
Deprivation of sleep can cause irritability and general lowering of performance and reaction times and puts a strain on the immune system.
Most of us have had the odd night where we couldn't get to sleep for worrying about something such as an impending exam or special event, and the occasional poor night's sleep does not do us any harm.
Imagine though how you would feel if this went on for a long time- you would be physically and mentally exhausted.
Unfortunately this is the situation of many people throughout the western world.
It is estimated that, for example, at least 40 million people in the United States of America suffer from chronic, long-term sleep disorders.
Stress and anxiety are one of the main causes of sleep disorders Sleeps disorders are conditions characterised by abnormal sleep patterns that interfere with normal physical, mental or emotional function.
Anxiety can cause a serious lack of sleep, whether it be due to not being able to get off to sleep (insomnia), intermittent waking, or waking up much too early in the morning.
Anxiety disorders are a group of conditions caused by stress and worry and noted for the disproportionate amount of worry felt.
They include generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and certain phobias.
Anxiety disorder can certainly lead to sleep disorder, and, to a certain extent, the reverse is also true since a lack of sleep seems to stimulate the part of the brain most closely associated with depression and anxiety.
It is best to check for any medical conditions that may contribute to a sleep disorder or anxiety disorder, and also to help determine which is the primary condition, i.
e.
is anxiety causing lack of sleep or is insomnia causing anxiety? Often it seems that anxiety is the prime cause, but then difficulty sleeping adds to the anxiety.
If you suspect you have a sleep disorder you should see a primary care physician or a mental health professional, or visit a clinic that specialises in sleep disorders.
There is a slight social stigma attached to the phrase "mental health" but this should not deter you from seeking help - the health of the mind is just as important as that of the body.
Treatment of anxiety disorder then often helps with sleep problems as well.
Treatment options include increasing exercise, relaxation and meditation techniques, cognitive behavioural therapy, and medication.
Exercise has been shown to improve people's mood in general as it leads to the production of endorphins, the brains natural chemicals that make you feel good.
Counselling involves talking trough your problems with a trained therapist, and helps straightaway by just getting your worries out in the open and having someone to talk to.
Even better is that the person has dealt with these problems before and can help you dispense with negative thoughts and alter your whole mind set.
This may take a few sessions though.
Medication is usually carried out by prescribing tranquillisers, commonly of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor type.
These help to raise levels of serotonin in the brain which is thought to be helpful in beating depression and anxiety.
There are other tranquillisers that can be useful although none are really advised for long term use.
This is the case also for sleeping tablets, as you may find you need increasing doses to get off to sleep after a while and they are addictive so it becomes difficult to reduce their use.
Anxiety sleep disorder is a complex group of inter-related factors causing both anxiety and sleep disturbance but can certainly be overcome so that a sufferer can return to a normal way of life.