Imagine being afraid of falling asleep every night, not seeing your bed as a place to relax and unwind, but to be a source of fear.
This is what happens if you suffer from seinophobia or sleep phobia.
In her report published by Canadian Best Health magazine, writer Jessica Megala said that sleep is vital to a healthy brain, weight loss and a strong heart, as avoiding frequent going to bed can have dangerous repercussions on your health.
Here's what experts have to say about what causes fear of sleep and how to alleviate this intense anxiety.
Causes of sleep anxiety
The author mentioned that fear of sleep may not be an official term, but you can think of it as a condition derived from insomnia, according to Dr. Virginia Ronco, a behavioral sleep medicine specialist and psychiatrist in Washington, DC.
"People who suffer from sleep problems see how this affects them during the day, so thinking about how the night passes causes anxiety ... The nights that you don't sleep are a terrible experience, and no one wants to go through it," she added.
However, it is important to know that because anxiety about sleep is a phobia, or an irrational fear, this usually disrupts daily activities and can have a serious impact on mental health.
Anxiety is manifested when you are afraid to go to bed;
Because you think about all that you have to do the next day (social media)
Is it anxiety, insomnia, or phobia?
The author quoted Dr. Martin Seif, a clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment of anxiety, that knowing the correct way to treat fear of sleep depends on identifying the root problem.
Here are some possibilities:
Anxiety or generalized anxiety disorder:
your mind enters into a state of anxiety when you are alone, or you have fears that do not correspond to reality, such as fear of breaking into your home even though you live in a safe society, or fear of death in your sleep when you are a healthy person.
Expectant anxiety:
Seif explains that this anxiety manifests itself when you dread going to bed.
Because you think about all you have to do on the job the next day.
Relationship problems:
You don't want to go to bed for a problem with your life partner.
Insomnia:
You will find yourself preoccupied with the amount of sleep you get;
Because you feel as if you have to sleep to do well the next day.
Phobia:
Research shows that fear of sleep can stem from recurrent sleep paralysis, a condition in which you are awake;
But you cannot move temporarily.
You may also have hallucinations at the same time, which can be very disturbing, according to a 2016 study published in the journal Sleep Medicine Report.
Severe nightmares may also be behind sleep phobia.
Risk factors for anxiety
The author indicated that suffering from PTSD and nightmares also may make you more likely to develop sleep phobia.
Some estimates suggest that up to 96% of people with PTSD have nightmares, and that may occur several times a week, according to the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
Therefore, it is not difficult to imagine that people may suffer from sleep phobia due to fear of nightmares.
Likewise, the Covid-19 pandemic is one of the reasons for the rise in nightmares today.
"A lot of people have very anxious and negative dreams," says Ronco.
If so, talking to a therapist can provide the support you need to deal with your thoughts, experiences, and concerns.
Sleep anxiety treatment
If you are anxious about going to bed trying to avoid having sex with your partner, then seeing a relationship professional might be the best solution.
For his part, Dr. Saif says that insomnia can be combated thanks to strategies such as healthy sleep habits or psychological education about sleep.
If you suffer from anxiety or phobias, CBT is often recommended.
Here's what you need to know about each treatment option:
The first step in treating sleep phobia caused by insomnia is cognitive behavioral therapy (Shutterstock).
Treatment compared to medication
Ronco says the first step in treating insomnia-induced sleep phobia is CBT.
You may first be asked to set a specific sleep schedule. You will also be given tools to help you feel more confident when you go to bed, including relaxation exercises or reframing negative bedtime thoughts.
Rising thoughts often exacerbate sleep phobia, such as "I will never be able to sleep and after that I will not be able to work, and I will lose my job."
"Restraining these thoughts and dealing with them directly can be beneficial," says Ronco.
A therapist can help you develop these skills.
For its part, the American College of Physicians recommends using CBT for insomnia as a primary treatment for sleep disturbance before prescribing medication.
If CBT for insomnia is not sufficient, then doctors are advised to consider adding a short-term course of medication to treat insomnia, which may include some antidepressants, and some people have also found melatonin useful in treating sleep anxiety.
Home remedies
The author advises to plan a transition period between waking up and going to bed.
In this regard, Dr. Alex Demetriou, MD, MD, MD, Specialized in Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine in Menlo Park (California), says that if your fears are building up before bed, you can write your thoughts in a diary, and you will notice that they tend to improve within 20 or 30 minutes. This method is effective, you have to write in an honest and real way, you have to go deeper and write down your fears and details of the dark things that keep your mind busy.