Sleep problems related to anxiety disorder

Sleep problems may be related to tension according to a new report reported in Science Daily. The study announced that sleep problems may be experienced by individuals for a period at least half a year after intense life situations that result in feelings of nervousness.

The study concentrated on a population sample of 16,627 ladies and men and women without problems sleeping and 2,572 took part in a five-year longitudinal observational cohort study. The study was authored by Jussi Vahtera MD of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health in Helsinki, Finland.

At the onset of the study, measurements were taken of an individual’s responsibility to anxiousness, which was set by a general feeling of stressfulness or hyperactivity. Measurement of sleep problems was measured at follow-up 5 years on re the incidence of post-onset life events like the death or sickness of relations, divorce, monetary difficulty and violence.

The report revealed that responsibility to uneasiness and exposure to negative life experiences were strongly related to sleep problems among examples of men who appeared to have a detriment to anxiousness. The odds of sleep problems were 3.11 times higher for those that experienced a harsh life experience as opposed to those who failed to. Among the group of men who were not liable to anxiousness, only 1.13 experienced sleep problems. For both women and men and females were liable to uneasiness, the chances for sleep problems for a period of zero to half a year after divorce was 2.05 with a corresponding proportion of 1.47 for those that were not liable to foreboding.

Dr. Vahtera said that “This five-year follow-up showed that exposure to severe stressful events can trigger sleep disturbances in people with undisturbed sleep before the event. Those liable to tension before the event appeared be at higher possibility of post-event sleep disturbances compared to those not liable to anxiety. The strength of this study is a study design that authorized the timing of pre-event predisposing traits and the frequency of specific stressed events precipitating the onset of sleep disturbances. Control for a big number of potential comfounding factors suggest that the noted associations were not explained by socioeconomic position, obesity, high alcohol intake or protracted conditions at study entry”.

The conclusion suggest by experts is that adults get 7-8 hours of sleep each night for good health and perfect performance. They also endorse that teens sleep about 9 hours a night, school-age kids between 10-11 hours night and youngsters in preschool between 11-13 hours. Individuals who believe they might have a sleep problem should probably consult their primary care consultant or a sleep specialist.

Read more about sleep apniea anxiety here.

What can I do about sleep problems?

I used to have trouble falling and staying asleep. Recently I had surgery to correct a deviated septum so that cured the sleep apnea. I no longer have trouble staying asleep, but I still have trouble falling asleep. What can I do about this? Should I see a doctor, a psychiatrist, what?

Answer
There is so much you can do to accomodate falling asleep. I would consider seeing a doc as a court of last resort. One of the best things you can do is develop a soothing bedtime ritual, because the body takes its sleep cues from things that regularly signal sleep to it. One example is to get into a hot bath (or if you have a hot tub spa, even better) for 15 or 20 minutes or so. Then when you get out, go about your bedtime prep routine (nothing that will make you agitated or more awake, like watching the TV). Don’t have caffeine or do strenuous physical activity at this time. Within 20 minutes your core body temperature will drop and that will signal sleep to your body. By that time, you must be in bed, in the dark, ready for sleep. If you fight it off because you are still active, the signal will pass unheeded. This is a surefire way to get your body to relax for sleep. It doesn’t have to always be a bath, if that’s not what you are into, but any similar, soothing, repetitive routine that signals your mind and body you are about to go to sleep will eventuallly work over time. (The hot bath thing can work the very first night though, because it’s just a matter of science rather than of getting your body used to something.) Another good idea is to do a good visual check of your bedroom. Is it conducive to sleep? Many people sleep better if their bedroom is reserved only for sleep and sex … no TV, no big pile of bills on a desk, nothing that reminds them of work they have to do, etc. You should also consider if the temperature, amount of light, texture of your bedding, type of pillow and al these things are exactly as you want them to be. If not, take the time and make the investment to make it right for yourself, because nothing can affect your life like failure to get a good night’s sleep, as you well know. Good luck catching better zzzzzzz’s.