- Physical tension.
This sensation can manifest itself in the form of muscle tension, especially in the neck, shoulders and back, which may be accompanied by pain or limited mobility. In such cases, the person feels that their body cannot fully relax, and even when lying in bed, it is hard to achieve calm. This tension can be the result of constant anxiety that arises from the fear of falling asleep. To ease the condition, you can use various methods that calm you down (for example, listening to soothing music or doing a few yoga asanas) to at least partially reduce your stress level.
- Concentration problems.
A person who is afraid of falling asleep often finds it difficult to focus on anything, as their thoughts constantly return to their fear. They may feel that their mind is occupied with anxious thoughts about what could happen during sleep, causing restlessness and disrupting their ability to concentrate on other tasks. This can impact work performance and everyday activities that require focus. Anxious thoughts about dreams or potential nightmares take up a lot of energy, so the person is unable to perform tasks properly or interact effectively with others. Additionally, with somniphobia, it’s hard to get proper rest and regain concentration overnight, which reduces productivity throughout the day. In such cases, considering medications like Armod and Modalert may help improve concentration, which is essential for a productive day.
- Panic attacks.
In this condition, panic attack symptoms can frequently occur, sometimes even accompanied by severe weakness and dizziness. This happens because the anxiety before going to rest can trigger such strong emotional reactions that the process of falling asleep becomes stressful and difficult. To calm yourself during such an episode, it’s important to take deep breaths and long exhalations, which can help stabilize your condition. Once the panic subsides, it’s better not to go straight to bed but to distract yourself for a little while. For example, watch a funny video or just breathe in fresh air. Then, play calm and relaxing music and fall asleep.
- Loss of appetite.
This is a fairly common symptom that can occur due to constant anxiety associated with the onset of night. Anxiety and other symptoms drain a lot of energy, which may lead to a lack of desire to eat, even when the food is delicious. Loss of appetite can also be accompanied by other symptoms, such as headaches or stomach aches, which further intensify the general discomfort. It is important to pay attention to this and try to address the problem using relaxation techniques or by consulting a specialist to reduce anxiety levels and restore normal appetite. Because loss of appetite on a long-term basis can lead to certain diseases that worsen your condition.
- Irrational thoughts.
Such thoughts are manifested in the fact that a person may think that falling asleep will make them feel sick, or that something scary or dangerous will happen at night, although in reality these fears have no real basis. In most cases, such thoughts are not true, but due to constant anxiety, a person may perceive them as a real threat. This further amplifies stress and complicates the rest and relaxation that the body desperately needs. To reduce the occurrence of such thoughts, one can, for example, do a small workout before going to bed. Physical activity stimulates the production of certain “feel-good” hormones, which can help reduce the appearance of scary thoughts.
