Conditions

Ways to Fall Asleep Under Stressful Situations

By Beth Vargas | Update Date: Feb 21, 2017 07:39 PM EST

There are different factors that cause stress and raise anxiety levels. These things can easily affect a person's regular sleeping cycle and induce acute insomnia.

Dr. Nancy Foldvary-Schaefer, director of the Sleep Disorders Center at the Cleveland Clinic told Time that acute insomnia is a common condition that may have resulted from any stressful life events like deadlines at work, problems in the home or even a seemingly harmless evening at home watching late night news.

Dr. Foldvary-Schaefer suggests that individuals consciously manage their evenings and intentionally slow down their thoughts at night time following a plan.

Stress triggers must be handled early during the day. Identifying the source of stressful thoughts early on allows a person to find creative solutions before bedtime. If it's something that has to wait after work, then take care of it as soon as possible.

Dr. Foldvary-Schaefer suggests having a worry journal while others suggest scheduling a worry time to process weary thoughts and not take it to bed with them. Going to bed anxious could leave individuals tossing and turning at night which can become chronic insomnia.

Creating an appropriate sleeping atmosphere in the bedroom, with comfortable sheets and pillows is another way. The room should also have the right temperature, dimmed or no lighting, and quiet or minimal noise. Stressed people may have less tolerance for a partner watching late night shows, catching up on his reading or a pet who loves to get comfortable. 

Food consumption must also be monitored and individuals looking to get more sleep must be wary of those that contain caffeine and alcohol. Research has proven that alcoholic drinks do not contribute to a good night's sleep.

Waking up in the middle of the night, unable to fall asleep again, Dr. Foldvary-Schaefer says not to stay in bed longer than 20 minutes when this happens. Get up and do something relaxing or boring to help clear the mind. CNBC suggested reading or coloring a book.

If the insomnia persists longer than 3 months, it is advisable that those concerned should seek medical attention.

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