Psychophysiological Insomnia

Chronic insomnia having difficulty falling asleep or an abnormal circadian cycle Because of increased bodily and cognitive arousal is commonly known as psychophysiological insomnia. In this type of insomnia, individuals worry or fear about how they would sleep. How would they pass their day with such sleeplessness?

Perception of Hurry In Psychophysiological Type Of Insomnia

This may also occur due to the perception of a hurry in mind like a hurry of work, a hurry of everyday tasks, which also induces the fear of hurrying while sleeping. This is more prevalent in the working class with a prevalence of 10-40 %. Many individuals look at insomnia as a broad, complex process where a variety of systems have an important part in figuring out how the illness progresses. Insomnia highly affects society as people are not productive during working hours or increase the number of sick leaves especially due to Psychophysiological Insomnia.

How Psychosocial Insomnia And Its Types Are Linked With Each Other?

The classification of Insomnia can be classified into two types: primary insomnia and secondary insomnia.  So how could we recognize primary insomnia?  Primary insomnia usually occurs when a person is unable to initiate their sleep or awake with worry in their mid-sleep. It usually occurs without any physical or mental disorder.

Why Secondary Insomnia Occurs?

Secondary insomnia occurs due to external factors such as pain or respiratory issues etc. This may be due to mental disorders like anxiety, depression, and stress or may be due to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, psychosocial insomnia is a type of primary insomnia where there is excessive worry or hurry in the sleep, which induces sleeplessness. These sleep difficulties may exacerbate or cause other health disorders or mental disorders making it secondary insomnia.

What Are The Symptoms Of Psychosocial Insomnia?

• Having difficulty falling asleep
• persistent mid-night awakenings, trouble falling asleep through the night, and often non-restorative sleep
• drowsiness throughout the day
• increased alertness, constant worry about sleep

Its influence on everyday tasks:

• irritability
• mood swings

What Functions Do Psychological Factors Have In The Development Of Sleeplessness?

• Physiological arousal may increase due to psychosocial factors such as anxiety or depression.
• Racing thoughts about daily life, job-related tasks, relationships, or other thoughts cause alertness when your mind should be calm for sleep.
• Negative thoughts related to your sleeping conditions like when you sleep or how you sleep. This would create anxiety in an individual making it more difficult for them to fall asleep.
• The symptoms of other health conditions like anxiety, depression, and other medical conditions.
• Disturbed circadian rhythms, which is your internal clock to fall asleep. Various mental behaviors or health conditions affect this rhythm.
• Your lifestyle like engagement in the activities nearest to the time of sleep, which would cause mental alertness and difficulty in falling asleep.

How Can Healthcare Professionals Diagnose Insomnia?

Clinical Interviews:

The clinician may conduct interviews with the individual undergoing psychosocial insomnia. The clinician would ask about their sleep patterns and the problems they face while sleeping. Environment-related questions should be asked that are affecting your sleep. Sleep questionnaires may be used to rule out this issue such as Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)

Asses Other Medical Conditions:

Clinicians should determine the underlying health conditions, which are inducing sleeplessness in an individual.

Lab Values:

Lab tests should be done to assess thyroid disorders or COPD conditions that are exacerbating psychosocial insomnia.

By Conducting, Sleep Studies:

Two studies are conducted to figure out the sleep patterns that are causing this chronic insomnia. These studies include polysomnography and actigraphy. Polysomnography is the study used to determine various physiological patterns behind insomnia. Actigraphy involves the introduction of a device, which usually records sleep patterns over several days.

Note that Diagnosis must be conducted under the International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD)

Does Psychosocial Insomnia Possess An Association With Other Sleep Disorders Like Restless-Legg Syndrome Or Sleep Apnea?

Psychosocial insomnia causes difficulties in falling asleep due to psychological and other factors, among other sleep disorders such as sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome (RLS). However, they are different conditions but they have common risk factors and may affect the sleep order. Psychosocial insomnia triggered continuously by stress or worry about sleep exacerbates other symptoms.

How Chronic Stress Does Leads To Psychosocial Insomnia?

Due to the complex connection between psychological and physiological elements, ongoing stress plays an important part in the formation of psychosocial insomnia. This all triggers the body’s “fight or flight” reaction, which boosts cortisol levels in the bloodstream because of increased physiological reactions.

That is why the human body cannot able to shift from this increased alertness state into a state of relaxation. This all is important for proper sleep. Furthermore, the disturbed balance between awakening and rest is due to an abnormal circadian rhythm affected by the chronic stress response.

Were Any Specific Methods Designed To Stop The Pattern Of Continuous Stress And Worry That Leads To Psychosocial Insomnia?

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy:

It is an alternative approach to treat insomnia, which non-pharmacological way constituted with different strategies. This will help in managing the sleep-related anxiety and sleep patterns. This therapy must be continued for 4-6 sessions weekly daily with 30-60 minutes each.

Stress Reduction Techniques:

Exercises suggested by your healthcare professional help enhance sleep quality. These include deep breathing and other meditation exercises; to calm your body before going to bed.

Awareness About Sleep Hygiene:

This involves the modification of diet that involves the omission of diet that makes you alert especially before going to bed. You should not consume substances like alcohol or drinks that induce sleeplessness. This technique tells about normal sleep patterns and how it will affect sleep while aging.