Getting a sound sleep at night under a stressful situation is hard enough. But sleeping well during this currently ongoing pandemic can sometimes feel impossible. It is not just you who is facing such a problem during this stressful time. Stress-related sleeping problems due to the COVID-19 pandemic are definitely a thing, even referred to as coronasomnia.
As you might think, insomnia due to COVID is more complicated than traditional stress-related sleeplessness as it is not just above the virus. It is about everything else that has changed due to the virus.
What does coronasomnia mean?
Coronasomnia is a term referred to describe the sleep problems due to stress caused by the corona pandemic, says an expert. You will not be surprised to know that sleeping problems and coronavirus go hand-in-hand and that sleep and stress do not mix. Any type of stress often triggers insomnia, waking up, having an inability to return to sleep, or falling asleep.
Stress impacts every aspect of your life, so, of course, it is going to impact your sleep, say experts. And that is even more complicated due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has been consuming our lives for much for the last two years.
Indeed, increased stress levels during this pandemic for many reasons, including economic hardships, loneliness, juggling work, and navigating parenting challenges.
Does COVID cause insomnia?
If you are facing trouble sleeping due to the pandemic, you are not alone. A rapid rise in sleep problems, especially insomnia, has been shown to be a concern all across the world. In the United States, a survey published that number of people experiencing insomnia increased from about one in six to one in four.
At the same time, in China, it rose from 14.6 percent to 20 percent during the lockdown period. According to a study, there are about 2.77 million google searches for insomnia in the United States. During the first five months of 2020, an increase of 58 percent over the same duration in previous years.
The rapid increase in sleep problems is due to the rise in anxiety and worry that the pandemic has brought, including the impact of the uncertainty and the constant barrage of information we are exposed to during the pandemic. Your regular lie routine and level of daily activity have been disrupted, and this has likely negatively impacted the sleep of many people.
But not only is pandemic a is not a stressor for many people, but it also creates new levels of uncertainty since there is no ending on the horizon.
Is insomnia is a symptom of COVID-19?
Experts say that many COVID-19 survivors with prolonged symptoms experience the problem of insomnia says CDC. They do not list this sleep disorder as a symptom of a general sign of COVID-19.
Stress during the pandemic is more likely to cause insomnia in people who suffer from the corona.
How can insomnia during COVID impact your sleep?
However, stress and lack of sleep can have a negative impact on your over well-being. It is the primary concern that is specific to the pandemic, says an expert in the effect of your immune system. When an individual is chronically sleep-deprived, they tend to lower immunity and increase their susceptibility to viruses.
Lack of sleep also gives a negative impact on your emotional mood regulations. If we are already feeling stressed about the pandemic, lack of sleep will boost that up. When you are getting a healthy amount of sleep, you tend to have better cognitive functions. So, things like decision-making and memory can get impact by lack of sleep.
The rest of the body can suffer from the chronic loss of sleep, leading to the issue with worsening metabolic and cardiovascular problems, including the increased risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, and weight gain.
While these problems are bad enough, happening during the stress due to the pandemic can compound the problem. It is a vicious cycle. If you are tire, you will be less likely to exercise and less likely to do things that actually enhance the mood. It compounds other stressors, anxieties, and even depression that people might already be experiencing.
How can Ambien help to treat insomnia?
There are various medicines to treat insomnia, but Ambien is the most recommended choice of experts for treating this problem. It works well at helping you go to sleep, but many people tend to wake up in the middle of the night. So, ambien is also available in the extended form that helps to stay asleep till morning.
Make sure you do not take Ambien unless you can get a full night’s sleep that is for at least seven to eight hours. It is a brand drug sell under the generic medicine Zolpidem that works in your brain to fall asleep.
Ambien can be addictive, so take it only under the doctor’s consultation for a limited period.
How can I combat COVID-related insomnia?
There are various ways that you can improve your sleep experience. Such as cutting down the screen time before going to bed, more exercise, and a better diet. Here are some suggestions about approaching these aspects with the pandemic in mind to relieve the stress before you go to bed.
Stay away from fake news.
A lot is happening in the world these days is an enormous understatement. While it is better to stay informed throughout the day, try to avoid oversaturation of news and other bad habits such as doomscrolling. This is especially essential in the evening.
People are connect to the news these days and watch it before they go to bed. But this leads you up to have those worries at night.
Distract yourself
The major problem that comes up during stress dreams is waking up in the middle of the night and being unable to fall back asleep. Not only does it less sleep, but it also leads to frustration. So, if you cannot fall asleep after 20 minutes, try to go in different. Distract your mind in the form of calming yoga, relaxing hobbies, or reading.