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Somniphobia is an intense fear of sleep.
Its what happens when stress and anxiety about sleeping or falling asleep turn into aphobia.
Symptoms of Somniphobia
People with somniphobia dont just have stress oranxiety about sleep.
Tero Vesalainen / Getty Images
Fear takes over your life and makes it difficult to function when you have a phobia.
You think about the thing you fear constantly.
The fear you feel isnt rational.
Falling asleep isnt going to harm people who have somniphobia, but it feels to them like it will.
You will be given a physical and asked questions about your health and well-being.
Your physician may want to rule out medical reasons for your symptoms or test you for possible sleep disorders.
Sometimes medications you are taking forcentral nervous systemdisorders can cause phobia oranxiety symptoms.
Somniphobia is often linked to certainsleep parasomnias(sleep disorders).
Its possible that having experienced a sleep disorder makes a person more fearful of falling asleep.
Medications usually work best when combined with therapy.
Thats why making sure to practice goodsleep hygienecan really help.
Its important to understand that you are not alone and that help is out there.
Phobias are very common, and they are treatable.
You deserve to feel well and more like yourself again.
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National Institute of Mental Health.Specific Phobia.
Samra CK, Abdijadid S.Specific Phobia.
2018;14(7):1193-1203. doi:10.5664/jcsm.7224
American Psychological Association.What Is Exposure Therapy?
Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Sleep Disorders.
