- Doing too much work before going to bed.
Overworking in the evening can cause some unpleasant symptoms and tension in the body, which can lead to unwanted nighttime awakenings. In such situations, falling back asleep becomes challenging because your mind remains tense and unable to relax. To prevent this, it’s crucial to set clear boundaries between work and rest. Try to complete all mentally demanding tasks at least one to two hours before bedtime. Use the time before sleep for relaxing activities such as taking a bath, brushing your teeth, or watching a lighthearted TV show.
But sometimes, after an especially exhausting day, the body becomes so overstrained that nothing seems to help it unwind for a peaceful night’s rest. This can result in anxious or even disturbing dreams. All of this takes a toll on the body, leaving you feeling drowsy and unproductive the next day. In such cases, consider taking medications like Artvigil or Waklert, which can help improve your productivity and combat daytime sleepiness. These simple habits help shift your focus to something neutral, allowing you to relax and sleep peacefully without sudden or unplanned awakenings.
- Bad and scary dreams.
Bad dreams can cause intense emotional distress, leading to sudden awakenings with a racing heart and a lingering sense of fear. In such moments, the brain does not immediately realize that it was just a dream, so the feeling of anxiety can persist even after waking up. The causes of nightmares vary—they can stem from excessive stress, exposure to unsettling news, emotional overload, or even an uncomfortable sleeping position. To reduce nightmares, it’s important to create a favourable atmosphere at home so that you feel more relaxed after work. For example, dim the lights, make yourself a cup of tea or cocoa, and simply enjoy the quiet moments after a long day. If nightmares frequently occur and affect your well-being, consulting a specialist is advisable, as they may indicate a deeper emotional imbalance.
- Psychological trauma.
Past traumatic events or stressful experiences can significantly disrupt sleep. Since the subconscious mind is activated at night, unpleasant memories can arise, causing you to wake up at night with feelings of anxiety and fear. It is quite easy to cope with this problem, it is important to learn not to ignore your feelings and not to try to push away thoughts of the trauma. If you feel the need, it’s best to seek psychological support — it can help reduce the impact of trauma on your sleep quality and overall emotional well-being.
- Sleep apnea.
When a person sleeps, their airways can temporarily become blocked, causing a brief pause in breathing. At that moment, the body experiences a lack of oxygen, and the brain immediately sends a danger signal, forcing the person to wake up suddenly. This is often accompanied by a loud gasp, a feeling of suffocation, or even panic. Such nighttime awakenings can occur repeatedly, preventing the body from getting proper rest. As a result, you may wake up in the morning feeling tired, irritable, with a headache, and lacking energy. In addition to disrupting sleep quality, sleep apnea can also increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, if you feel that you can’t manage snoring on your own, and it significantly disrupts your sleep, it’s best to seek help from a specialist.