Another sleep poll

[sanderella]

Research suggests that the effects of sleep loss can be the same as depression/anxiety. Tiredness makes us feel emotions more strongly, particularly fear. The same mechnism in the brain is seen in conditions like depression.
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=mg19626275.500&feedId=online-news_rss20

It made me wonder how many of us don't get enough sleep and whether that has something to do with it.

[MissWhat_If]

Interesting, Sandarella.  Thanks for the link. 

My insomnia started in childhood.  I guess that's when my GAD began. 

[retrogurl88]

I had terrible insomnia and night terrors up until the age of 14.  I would also stay up most nights worrying, while either attempting to sleep or staring at the ceiling.  Then I would watch the sun come up, until I collasped from sheer exhaustion during the last three hours before waking up for school.  Luckily, after I started taking Paxil that year, my sleep dramatically improved.  I now sleep straight through most nights.  But I'm still curious as to why I had such bad sleep problems at an early age.

Interesting article Sanderella, I wonder if scientists will soon to discover that years of poor sleep is a direct link to mental illness?

[sanderella]

Yeah, that could be one possibility. I had poor sleep as a child too. I wonder if to some extent it's about how the parents go about getting the child into a routine. I've heard about these horrible 1950s methods of getting young babies to sleep through the night, but however harsh they seem, they did work, which suggests that a routine can be instilled in a young child regardless of personality. I don't know if it's a good thing or not. I wonder if it had been done to me whether I'd be sleeping better now.

[VATeacher]

I generally sleep 5 hours a night, which is not nearly enough.  I only feel really rested after about 8 1/2 hours... I usually sleep that long on Friday nights.

[retrogurl88]

I don't know sanderella, my parents established a bedtime routine with me from day one, but that didn't seem to make much of a difference.

[itzmebob]

I went to a "relaxation" seminar years ago.
they stressed how to prepare your bedroom for a good nights sleep.
make sure you have good covering on your windows to keep sound and light out.
now they have scented or aroma to help you sleep.
I also use a Breathe right for my nose.
it helps you breathe better through your nose.
(this helped me a great deal)  good for snorers too.


BOB

[ocdengineer]

I usually get enough sleep which is between 6-8 hours a sleep a night.  Anything more or less is bad for me.  Personally, I can feel sleep deprivation causing anxiety.  This last week I had very restless sleep due to severe allergies and possibly a cold.  This has lead to an increase in anxiety and I slept almost all day today to catch up.  I am still sick, but the anxiety is gone.  I think sleep or lack thereof is a major factor in anxiety!

Later,
OE

[lamy12]

My level of anxiety is directly related to sleep.  Not enough sleep and I get panicky.  Too much sleep also gives me different anxiety symptoms like depersonalization and also some depression. lamy

[retrogurl88]

I find that the themes of my dreams directly reflect my current level of anxiety, at the time.  If it's really high, then I spend the night running from someone or something, or falling off a really high ledge. 

[addicted]

its been my biggest struggle to this day.