Category: sleep
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CAN SLEEP DISTURBANCE WORSEN THE COURSE OF PTSD?
Research indicates among all the anxiety disorders, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) has the highest comorbidity rate with insomnia (i.e., they occur together). Studies with post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), on the other hand, reveal a different pattern. SLEEP DISTURBANCES AND PTSD Notably, there is growing evidence that sleep difficulties may contribute to the development of…
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PATTERNS OF SLEEP DISTURBANCES ACROSS ANXIETY DISORDES
Sleep and anxiety are intimately connected, so much so that sometimes we cannot tell which one comes first. In recent studies, findings indicate that in 43.5% cases of insomnia, anxiety symptoms preceded chronic insomnia. By contrast, the percentage of chronic insomnia and anxiety disorders occurring simultaneously was not too far behind at 38.6%, which implies…
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GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER (GAD) DISRUPTS SLEEP CONTINUITY
Research findings have documented patterns of decreased sleep efficiency, disrupted sleep continuity, and overall lightening of sleep in generalized anxiety disorders (GAD); however, the presence of comorbidity, especially with mood disorders, is believed to confound the results. As a solution to this conundrum, the current study investigates sleep architecture in a group of otherwise healthy…
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THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SLEEP DISTURBANCE AND GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER (GAD)
Many patients with a primary psychiatric disorder report sleep disturbances that change across the lifespan and also vary with gender. These alterations in sleep may influence the development and course of a psychiatric disorder, and thus treatment of the psychiatric disorder can significantly improve sleep. Conversely, when the sleep disturbance predominates, its treatment may improve…
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HOW TO REDUCE FEAR OF DARKNESS IN CHILDREN
THREE SOURCES OF NIGHT FEARS IN CHILDREN PLAY-FOCUSED TECHNIQUES TO REDUCE NEGATIVE FEELINGS ABOUT THE NIGHT INTRODUCING THE CHILD TO THE WONDERS OF THE NIGHT: INTRODUCING NIGHT GAMES INTRODUCING A NIGHT ROUTINE source: Csonka, Sándor. (2021). Why be afraid of the night? – Pedagogical methods for developing positive attitudes towards natural darkness in order to…
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SLEEP QUALITY SCALE (SQS)
The following survey investigates your quality of sleep in the last month. For each question, please choose one of 4 possible answers: SURVEY: SCORING First: reverse scores on items 2, 8, 9, 13, 16, 18, 20, and 27 as follows: Second: tally up your scores. Total scores can range between 0 and 84, with higher…
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CREATE A HEALTHY SLEEP ENVIRONMENT
DESIGN YOUR SLEEP ENVIRONMENT BY FOCUSING ON COMFORT AND LETTING GO OF DISTRACTIONS: UPGRADE YOUR BED: get a comfortable mattress and pillows; making sure that they fit your body shape and preferred sleeping positions. In addition, it is worth investing on quality bedding such a sheets that are comfortable on your skin and that maintain…
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SHUT OFF YOUR BRAIN BEFORE SLEEP
Racing thoughts contribute to inability to fall asleep at night, although other factors could be involved as well including caffeine, medication, and other mental health issues, just to name a few Here are a few practices that can gently help your mind to slow down: TURN OFF ALL YOUR SCREENS: The blue light from your…
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DOES SLEEP LOSS LEAD TO SOCIAL ISOLATION?
Sleep loss promotes social withdrawal, thereby increasing isolation and loneliness.
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DOES SLEEP DEPRIVATION INCREASE ANXIETY?
Sleep deprivation increases anxiety, especially after more than 72 hours of no sleep.