What is Sleep Disturbance?
Sleep disturbance is any interruption in sleep. Sleep disturbance may include trouble initiating or maintaining sleep and disordered sleep/wake schedules (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2019).
Causes of Sleep Disturbance
People often experience sleep disturbances when they experience a great deal of stress related to life events or trauma, which make it difficult to sleep.
Symptoms
Symptoms of sleep disturbance may include excessive daytime sleepiness, irregular breathing or increased movement during sleep, irregular sleep and wake cycle, and difficulty falling asleep (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2019)
Possible Outcomes
Sleep disturbance affects sleep quality, timing or duration and can cause irritability, decreased creativity, decreased focus, tremors, aches, and memory lapses or loss.
Statistics
A large portion of Americans have reported poor sleep quality. Recent studies have shown that as much as 60% of Americans have reported sleep disturbance (Schlarb, Friedrick & Claben, 2017).
Effective Coping Strategies
Although, this is not an exhaustive list, effective stress management and relaxation techniques for sleep disturbance may include controlled breathing, planning (keeping a sleep schedule), regular exercise, guided imagery, meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, ocular relaxation, and avoiding electronics, nicotine and caffeine before bedtime.
