Insomnia Caused by Anxiety or Stress?
Reviewed by Varnada Karriem-Norwood on August 30, 2012
Sources
Michael J. Breus, PhD, American Board of Sleep Medicine, Clinical Psychology, Clinical Sleep Disorders, Atlanta School of Sleep Medicine, Atlanta.
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Video Transcript
Narrator: How can I tell if anxiety or stress is the reason for my insomnia?
Michael Breus, PhD Sleep Specialist: The big thing to look for with anxiety and stress is that not being able to turn your mind off. Uh, again, that's the most complaint that I get from people with sleep, but if there's an anxiety or stressful issue in your life, and when you lie down to fall asleep, and you've done your hygiene and you've sat down and meditated or relaxed, and you just can't turn your brain off, that's when anxiety and Uh stress is probably a culprit.
Michael Breus, PhD Sleep Specialist: The big thing to look for with anxiety and stress is that not being able to turn your mind off. Uh, again, that's the most complaint that I get from people with sleep, but if there's an anxiety or stressful issue in your life, and when you lie down to fall asleep, and you've done your hygiene and you've sat down and meditated or relaxed, and you just can't turn your brain off, that's when anxiety and Uh stress is probably a culprit.