When reviewing what a phobia is, we realize that the cases are infinite, since they can occur in front of any object or situation. Some are more common phobias, such as arachnophobia (fear of spiders) or cynophobia (fear of dogs). But, among the rarest phobias in the world, we find issues such as cherophobia (fear of being happy), scopophobia (fear to be observed) and amaxophobia (fear of driving). Within this category, there is one in particular that stands out for the terrible way in which it can affect our health, it is the fear of sleep or somniphobia.
If you want to know more, join us in Supercurioso, that today we get between the sheets, to discover what somniphobia is, its causes, symptoms and consequences. And it is that Sleep a little it has endless negative effects on your well-being and quality of life.
Find out what somniphobia is
After a day full of activities, movements and responsibilities, nothing is more pleasant than coming home, taking a shower and going to bed to enjoy a few hours of deep rest.
However, sleep well It is an act that seems forbidden for people who suffer from the phobia towards sleep. When talking about what Somniphobia is, we are referring to a pathology that is also known as clinophobia or oneirophobia, which It prevents people who suffer from it, reconcile a calm, deep and restful sleep.
Specifically, The fear of sleeping generates in those who suffer from it the feeling that sleeping represents a risk. So much so that, when the time comes to rest, these people suffer from large doses of anxiety and stress, these attacks can even lead to crisis of panic. The interesting thing about the phobia is that it is not associated with dreams either nightmares. That is to say, the source of the fear of sleeping is not in what happens in the dream, but in the ideas that the person has about it in advance.
People who suffer from sleep phobia also tend to perceive other associated pathologies, such as the fear of being hypnotized. In short, it is a fear of losing consciousness and self-control, generating a feeling of vulnerability.
1. Causes and symptoms of fear of sleeping
When we talk about what Somniphobia is, we find a pathology that is extremely harmful to the quality of life. Its causes can be multifactorial: from issues related to genetic predisposition, to anxietyeven negative experiences or unresolved traumas. The fact is that the person who suffers from a fear of sleeping usually externalizes it through symptoms such as the following:
- People who suffer from fear of sleep they usually have a very intense and disabling discomfort during the last hours of the day. His anxiety increases noticeably as the time of night approaches. It even worsens when they begin to feel physical fatigue and sleepiness.
- In more intense cases, people with sleep phobia may become exasperated or overly anxious at the very thought of sleepingeven when the night is still far away.
- It is also common in those who suffer from fear of sleep, experiencing physical symptoms such as tremors, rapid pulse, and high blood pressurenausea, dizziness, or fast breathing.
- They are also counted as symptoms that define what Somniphobia is, the recurrence of catastrophic thoughts about what can happen if the person falls asleep. This anguish is combined with an urgent need to “escape” at the moment of sleep.
2. The consequences of not sleeping well
Sleep is one of the most important functions of the body. While we sleep, our brain and body continue to work, developing different processes. Incorporating new information, recharging energy and feeling rested is part of what is generated in our body when we sleep. restoratively, between seven and eight hours each night.
But people who suffer from a fear of sleep suffer from the negative effects of lack of sleep. Among the main consequences of not sleep wellthe following are counted:
- When we talk about what Somniphobia is, we are dealing with a pathology that damages sleep, and therefore our mood and relationships. People who sleep poorly often develop volatile moods. They are more irritable and this affects their interpersonal relationships.
- When we don’t sleep well, too we have a broth of substance suitable for the development of feelings of anxiety and even depression.
- Poor sleep can also affect physical health, increasing the risk of developing pathologies such as high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney diseases, and even obesity and diabetes type two.
3. How to treat Somniphobia?
Approaching the concept of what Somniphobia is can be quite hopeless for those who suffer from it. Rest being one of the most valuable pleasures in life, not being able to do it spontaneously is a real headache. But there are techniques and methods that can help us sleep better and overcome the fear of sleep and recover a deep rest.
- systematic exposure therapy
The main ally for the treatment of Somniphobia and other types of phobias is psychological therapy. In it, the professional can guide his patient with different tools, until the symptoms are progressively reduced. One of the most common and effective techniques is that of systematic exposure. It is about subjecting the person to the phobic stimulus. Bring him to a context in which, in a safe and controlled environment, the patient can approach his source of anxiety.
For this, visualization exercises guided by the psychologist are used. The use of more real contexts has even been tested, adding virtual reality tools. In these exercises, the professional adjusts the difficulty levels as the patient evolves, to the point where the phobia is reduced to an insignificant nuisance.
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relaxation therapies
Understanding what Somniphobia is and overcoming it is a process that does not materialize overnight. However, applying the correct methods and with the indicated perseverance, the results obtained are remarkable. The relaxation therapies are added to the methods of solving the fear of sleeping. Through different techniques, the patient is taken to a state of deep relaxation, which involves breathing and awareness exercises. With this, it is possible to reduce the levels of anguish of the person as the moment of sleep approaches.
- cognitive restructuring
And another of the therapeutic techniques that efficiently combat the fear of sleeping is cognitive restructuring. Basically, it is about addressing the person’s irrational fears, changing their ideas about them. For example, someone who fears that their organs will shut down while they sleep can be approached from this point of view, making them see how unlikely it is that their anxieties will come true. Leading him to question and dismantle his own limiting beliefs, thus favoring a new perspective on his phobia.
And you, Did you know about the fear of sleeping? Have you ever experienced it? Or do you know of someone who suffers from it? Leave us all your opinions in a comment. We will be looking forward to reading you! And, if you want to stick with the theme, we invite you not to miss this rare selection of the most outlandish celebrity phobias, to feed your super-curious spirit!
Beyond the fear of sleeping, other phobias that may interest you
Now that we have concluded our article on the phobia of injections or snakes, we want to leave you with this selection of phobias. Do you have any of them?
- What is sophophobia, fear of studying
- What is crematophobia, the fear of money
- What is Turophobia, the fear of cheese.
- What is Eisoptrophobia, the fear of mirrors.
- What is arachnophobia, the fear of spiders.
- What is glossophobia, the fear of public speaking.
- What is acrophobia, the fear of heights.
- What is hafephobia, the fear of being touched.
- What is decidophobia, the fear of making decisions.
- What is tanotophobia, the fear of death.
- What is aerophobia, the fear of flying by plane.
- What is ophidiophobia, the fear of snakes.
- What is hemophobia, the fear of blood.
- What is clautrophobia, the fear of enclosed spaces.
- What is coulrophobia, the fear of clowns.