Two of the most widespread yet under-reported medical conditions are anxiety and insomnia. You may also be surprised to learn that they can be related to each other. The relationship between these two conditions can lead to a vicious spiral that makes it difficult for sufferers to cope.
What we are talking about here is not the occasional sense of feeling anxious or a night or two where you have a hard time staying asleep. Those things happen to everybody, and are nothing more than a minor annoyance. What we are talking about is chronic anxiety and insomnia; the kind that happens on a regular basis and has a negative impact on other parts of your life.
NOTE: Always talk to your personal doctor about any health concerns you have, including anxiety or insomnia. Nothing in this article is meant to be taken as medical advice of any kind; however, it can form the basis of your initial discussion about your concerns.
All of this can lead to a tricky problem: determining whether it's the insomnia causing the anxiety, or vice-versa. Scientific studies have shown that both cases are quite possible, so it could really be either one. However, that means it is also possible that by treating one of the problems, you can alleviate the other.
Most people can relate to insomnia caused by anxiety. Imagine lying in bed with all of the troubles of the day running through your head; add to that your worries of what tomorrow will bring, and it can be next to impossible to a restful night of sleep. That feeling of not being able to sleep isn't any fun at all, and it only leads to more restlessness.
On the other hand, most people are surprised to learn that insomnia can lead to anxiety. The reason for this isn't entirely understood, but it seems as though a decrease in the body's overall ability to cope due to not sleeping could be a contributing factor to anxiety.
Understanding the relationship between anxiety and insomnia can be a real discovery for people that suffer from either or both conditions. It's as though they suddenly realize that their insomnia leads to their anxiety, and vice-versa.
As mentioned earlier, you should always talk to your doctor about any health concerns you have. When talking to your doctor, you may want to discuss if you should start by treating your anxiety or insomnia first. After all, if you can improve both conditions by treating only one, then it will be much easier to manage your treatment options.
You can find resources to help you treat anxiety and insomnia, but they will only work if you make use of them and follow through on their advice. Either way, it's reassuring to know that you don't have to keep suffering. There is a lot of help out there, and the sooner you start learning what you can do, the sooner you will find solutions that work for you.
