Stress and anxiety cause similar biochemical effects on the body due to the hormonal stress response. The activity of the hormones, adrenalin and cortisol, are released in excess when a person is stressed or anxious and this affects the body’s natural sleep patterns (circadian rhythm). These stress hormones cause a state of hyperexcitability, which may also be seen as irritability, restlessness, fear, depression or anger and sensitivity to stimuli like bright light, loud noise or strong odors.
Stress and anxiety should be treated both with psychotherapy and anti-anxiety medication or mild sedatives. Reducing the intensity of stress and anxiety will often assist with the insomnia or sleeplessness without requiring further treatment for the insomnia itself. Typically in cases of stress induced and anxiety related insomnia, the sufferer often reports being unable to fall asleep due to “too many thoughts going through their mind” and their sleep breaks resulting in them thinking and worrying about daily events.
Stress and anxiety is an exacerbated physical and mental response to a stimulus, like emotional issues, life circumstances, and ideally the causative factors should be addressed along with learning effective coping skills.
Holistic Approach to Stress, Anxiety and Insomnia Treatment
- Psychotherapy is essential with a focus on teaching good coping skills to manage the stress and anxiety without creating a dependence on medication.
- Natural approach to treatment involving the use of herbal and homeopathic remedies may be effective in reducing stress, anxiety and insomnia and avoiding addiction to any allopathic drugs. These remedies usually do not have associated side effects like drowsiness, fatigue and lethargy upon waking or during the day. Refer to Natural Remedies for Insomnia.
- Stimulants like nicotine and caffeine further aggravates stress, anxiety and insomnia and should be excluded from the diet.
- Stress reducing practices like exercise, meditation and other physical or mental activities may assist with reducing the stress levels and controlling anxiety or easing insomnia.
- Attempting to establish consistent sleep patterns will assist with the body’s circadian rhythm to allow for natural sleeping and waking cycles.
- Poor eating habits, irregular meals and alcohol consumption can further affect the body’s circadian rhythm as well as blood sugar levels which may contribute to insomnia.