Dealing with Sleep Disruption Caused by Anxiety
Anxiety is a prevalent mental health issue among the elderly population residing in nursing homes. Around 40 million Americans face anxiety at some point in their lives. Anxiety, along with its underlying triggers, can significantly disrupt sleep patterns, making it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. This can create a vicious cycle where anxiety hinders sleep, and sleep deprivation, in turn, exacerbates anxiety.
It is crucial for elderly individuals in nursing homes to seek help from therapists when anxiety starts affecting their ability to maintain their daily routines, especially their sleep. Quality sleep plays a vital role in maintaining both physical and mental health. Picture your body constantly stuck in a state of fight or flight while you’re attempting to sleep, hindering your body’s recovery and your ability to function during the day.
Sleep deprivation can also compromise your immune system. Even a short period of sleep loss can lead to a significant increase in anxiety and its debilitating effects. It can be important to distinguish between insomnia (general persistent problems falling and staying asleep) from mental health diagnoses effecting sleep. The goal is always to treat the source of the issue.
Strategies to Address Anxiety-Induced Sleep Issues Independently
There are some simple techniques that can be attempted to alleviate anxiety and improve sleep quality before seeking therapeutic interventions. Breathing exercises and a technique called “triangle breathing” can help regulate your heart rate manually, assisting in calming you down in the moment. Triangle breathing involves inhaling for three seconds, holding your breath for three seconds, and exhaling for another three seconds. This straightforward method can help bring your mind and body back to a calm state. Anxiety comes from thoughts, so it takes a ‘neck down’ intervention to try and fight or distract from those thoughts.
Incorporating meditation, yoga, or physical exercise into your routine can also be effective in calming both your mind and body. Physical activity offers various benefits, such as lowering blood pressure, managing weight, reducing the risk of physical illnesses, fostering social interaction, and promoting healthier coping mechanisms. Moreover, in today’s era of constant digital connectivity, putting your phone away and setting it to silent mode can eliminate distractions that might trigger anxiety when attempting to sleep.
How Therapists Can Assist in Treating Anxiety-Related Sleep Problems
Collaborating with a therapist experienced in anxiety therapy can provide valuable support in minimizing its daily impact and restoring a healthy sleep pattern. Anxiety therapists typically employ cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and guided therapy to help you regain optimal sleep quality.
CBT is the most used therapy intervention for addressing anxiety. It aims to identify and rectify negative thoughts and beliefs that contribute to anxiety. CBT can improve sleep by creating awareness of behaviors that disrupt it, such as maintaining a consistent bedtime routine, reserving the bed solely for sleep, eliminating stimulants that hinder sleep, and removing distractions and light sources from the bedroom.
Another effective anxiety therapy intervention is guided therapy, which uses mental imagery, memories, and stories to evoke positive and calming feelings. Guided therapy can assist in calming your mind, preventing it from wandering and triggering anxiety. An example of this technique is imagining yourself engaging in a mundane activity like painting a room with a soothing color. This keeps your mind focused on the task at hand, reducing anxiety triggers. Learning to connect your mind and body helps diminish anxiety’s grip on your overall well-being.
If anxiety is interfering with your ability to sleep or carry out daily functions, it’s advisable to reach out to a therapist. While anxiety is common and often experienced in specific situations, persistent and life-altering anxiety doesn’t need to be a burden you carry in your daily life. There are numerous highly effective therapy interventions available to help you regain the quality of life you deserve.
Taking Sleep Problems and Anxiety Further
Working in collaboration with a therapist and a medication prescribing professional can be an option if therapy alone does not significantly reduce the symptoms. Top quality providers will attempt supplements like melatonin, magnesium, and lavender before attempting medication that provides sedation effects. Many nursing home facilities have their own Nurse Practitioners who prescribe medications. Otherwise, there are telehealth options for prescribers. The collaboration of prescribers and facility staff is important to monitor and track any changes or side effects that could signal a need to change or stop prescriptions.