If anyone is the queen of sleep anxiety, it might be me. I spend the night lying awake, unable to shut my brain off from ruminating thoughts. They either prevent me from falling asleep for hours, wake me up in the middle of the night, or act as an alarm clock well before my iPhone chirps at me bright and early.
I’m left feeling, quite obviously, exhausted. By the following night, my anxieties and stress have eased but I’m left with a new worry: That I won’t be able to fall asleep again, resulting in yet another restless night . It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy, because that fear leaves me tossing and turning yet again.
And so goes the vicious cycle of sleep anxiety, which Dr. Raj Dasgupta, a pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine specialist at the University of Southern California and Chief Medical Advisor for Fortune Recommends Health , defines as “the stress or worry about falling asleep or staying asleep, often accompanied by physical symptoms like a racing heart.” Maybe you can relate.
After all, he tells Fortune, sleep anxiety is quite common among many people and often stems from various factors like past sleep issues; poor sleeping habits, like an irregular schedule or screen use too close to bedtime; stress from major life changes such as a new job or financial problems; or ongoing health issues, like chronic pain or breathing problems. “People with anxiety or PTSD often face sleep anxiety because their constant worries and stress make it hard to wi.