Anxiety And Insomnia

Anxiety and insomnia go hand in hand: Learn how to beat these debilitating problems!

Just 50 years ago, anxiety and insomnia weren't in the commonplace category of problems for the average person. Sadly, today, these two conditions afflict tens of millions of Americans. So what's changed? Along with the benefits of advances in science, medicine and technology, we've also gained a host of health conditions which are, in part, attributable to the advances mentioned above. Sure, we've got many time-saving gadgets, appliances and life-saving medications. On the down side, this has produced an explosion in the number of people who live a sedentary lifestyle. While, in days past, we might have walked or biked to school or work, we now slip behind the wheel of our car or, at worst, walk to the bus or metro stop. Let's face it, we've become a rather lazy society when it comes to physically exerting ourselves. At the same time, our automated society brings a rapid pace few can juggle adequately. Here we focus on two common conditions which can be truly debilitating. These are anxiety and insomnia, which do go hand in hand. Let's take a look at some of the common causes and what you can do to get them under control, or even eliminate them completely.

First, it's important to understand that anxiety can lead to insomnia. Frequent bouts of anxiety will detract from a general sense of well-being. The general symptoms of anxiety, including heart palpitations, sweating and an inability to concentrate are not only unpleasant, but scary; many people experience these symptoms so severely that they may fear they are having a heart attack. When people have frequent anxiety attacks, these attacks can certainly impact your day-to-day productivity and create a dysfunctional state. As stated above, anxiety and insomnia go hand in hand. When you feel anxious on an ongoing basis, your worries seem to pile up, impeding your ability to sleep restfully. This is not a situation anyone wants! So what can you do?

A good first step is to begin logging the events preceding an anxiety attack, as well as those nights when you find you're unable to sleep. (Remember, anxiety and insomnia can often occur together ... one feeds the other.) A small notebook is all you need for your log.

Over a period of two to three weeks, you'll begin to see patterns emerge, which can be significant to your specific solution. For example, let's say you have a co-worker with whom you don't have the best rapport. Most often, when you interact with this person, you have a disagreement, one which may go unresolved; you just take your resentful feelings and suppress them and walk away, steaming silently. This person will be at an upcoming meeting where you are to give a presentation. As you prepare your presentation, you suddenly feel overwhelmed with anxiety, without being able to pinpoint a specific reason. The night before you are to give your presentation, you also have insomnia. After this sleepless night, you have an anxiety attack at the most inopportune moment, just before your presentation. Here we have a classic example of the relationship between anxiety and insomnia.

This is where your log comes in. When you begin to understand your own triggers, you may be able to bring a degree of control to both conditions.

Take your log to your doctor and discuss what might be done. There are several types of anxiety disorders and your doctor will find your log useful in making a diagnosis and getting you the best treatment. Discuss simple measures you can implement: exercise, relaxation techniques and dietary changes are just a few examples. Follow your doctor's advice, and take any medications you are prescribed. Continue filling in your log as this is a great learning tool. You may well find yourself free of anxiety and insomnia! To your good health!