Nocturnal Anxiety: Symptoms, Causes And Treatment

Today we would like to address the issue of Nocturnal Anxiety, a problem that makes it difficult for those affected to find sleep.

Problems falling asleep, circling thoughts and worries, sweating, increased heart rate, feeling of suffocation … Nocturnal anxiety states are much more common than you might think. In fact, they are so present that they could be behind the recurring insomnia that is affecting your quality of life.

It’s important to know that a significant portion of sleep disorders is directly related to anxiety. So when night approaches and you long for a good night’s sleep, you may all too often achieve the exact opposite.

Various conditions, such as generalized anxiety disorder or post-traumatic stress syndrome, are therefore clear triggers for sleep problems. In addition, the following usually happens: The nervousness and anxiety increase as night falls.

Nocturnal Anxiety: The Hidden Manifestation of a Problem

We define nighttime anxiety as a state of hyperactivity and alertness that affects your rest period during the night. This change is common in people who have suffered feelings of worry, restlessness, and anxiety for months.

At the same time, it is common to notice changes in our sleep cycles in these situations. It is also common to go to bed at night and get lost in the labyrinth of thoughts, which in turn feeds the cycle of fear.

It will come as no surprise, then, that a large proportion of people suffering from insomnia often experience severe anxiety, which is often left untreated.

We can look at the studies conducted by Doctor Luc Staner of Rouffach Hospital (Maryland, USA) in this regard . His research shows that the prevalence of anxiety in people with insomnia could be anywhere from 24% to 36%.

This number is high enough to reflect the seriousness of the problem. Finally, we must not forget that a prolonged poor night’s sleep can contribute to the development of various diseases.

What are the symptoms of nocturnal restlessness?

One of the main symptoms of nighttime anxiety is hyperactivity. The mind gets carried away with worry, the body is exhausted and tense, as if it were preparing for an escape or a sprint.

In addition, the following signs are also common:

1. It is common for people to experience palpitations, chest pressure, and a feeling of drowning.
2. Headaches or stitches in the temples are also not uncommon.
3. It can take the person hours to fall asleep, and when they finally do, they often wake up again.
4. Nighttime anxiety includes feeling like you haven’t rested. This is because people have a hard time reaching the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) phase of the sleep cycle. However, REM sleep is important when it comes to getting deep sleep and being able to perform certain tasks. For example information processing, learning and memory consolidation.
5. The lack of REM sleep further increases the emotional burden, which increases anxiety. There is one important detail to keep in mind: if the disorder reaches a high level, the person can have a panic attack.

What are the causes of nighttime anxiety?

Mariano Chóliz, professor at the University of Valencia, has done interesting research on anxiety and sleep disorders. In it he talks about the so-called Monroe hypothesis (Monroe, 1967). According to this approach, the source of nighttime anxiety could be related to:

• People who suffer from this disease are characterized by a higher degree of physiological activation (an excitation, according to the technical term used in neuronal physiology). They suffer from a higher breathing rate, a higher body temperature and increased muscle tension.
• In addition to these symptoms, there are also cognitive factors (negative thoughts and worries) and emotions (fear, fear). All of this creates this symptomatic triangulation that increases nighttime anxiety.

What is nightly anxiety treatment like?

Anxiety and the associated insomnia are just symptoms of a deeper problem. Therefore, it makes no sense to resort to relaxing IV fluids or even medication to help you fall asleep without addressing the source of the disorder.

Hypnotic or sleep-inducing drugs make us fall asleep, but they are not the solution. So what’s the most effective strategy? Psychological therapy is an approach to either address the trigger of the situation or to offer us skills with which we can improve our quality of life.

Below we take a look at the things to consider in order to reduce your nighttime anxiety:

• Identify the environment, lifestyle, and situations that might play a role in that situation.
• Visit a doctor who can make a diagnosis: a specialist needs to determine what type of anxiety the patient is suffering from.
• On average, in these cases, cognitive behavioral therapy is best.
• Again, it is necessary to keep the same schedules throughout your routine. In other words, you should go to bed and get up at the same time each day.
• Relaxation and breathing exercises are also a good idea.
• In addition, experts recommend limiting the use of cell phones, computers, and other electronic devices two hours before bed.

• Avoid eating sugary foods before bed, as this can stimulate brain activation from the glucose ingested.

Don’t let the nighttime fear progress

Finally, there is one final point to consider; it is never a good idea to let these situations persist. Failure to treat your nighttime anxiety and insomnia will result in harmful changes in your body. The condition will seriously affect your health and quality of life.

Therefore, contact a specialist as soon as possible in order to normalize your sleep behavior again and to get the rest that you so urgently need.