Somniphobia is an uncommon sleep disorder. It usually affects children slightly more often than adults but is not age-specific, in general. We spoke to Kenneth C. Anderson, M.D., a specialist in pulmonary and sleep medicines and a physician at the Sleep Disorders Center at Baptist Hospital East in Louisville, Kentucky, for one approach to the medical problems you or your loved one may suffer from when trying to sleep.
If you think you or your child might have somniphobia, use this as a reference point before getting personalized medical advice from your doctor or other accredited sleep expert. --Tracie Handley
Somniphobia is the fear of going to sleep. "Somniphobia is a nighttime problem, and a good example is a young child who is scared of going to sleep because [of] bad dreams and, now, is afraid of having another bad dream," explains Dr. Anderson. "I've seen it in [adults] with sleep apnea who wake up gasping for breath, so they don't want to go to sleep again."
Identify Your Underlying Symptoms
Determine If It's Insomnia Or Somniphobia
Seek Professional Evaluation
Make Your Bedroom Conducive To Sleep
Have A Set Sleep Pattern
Kenneth C. Anderson, M.D, is a specialist in pulmonary and sleep medicines. He is a physician at the Sleep Disorders Center, at Baptist Hospital East in Louisville, Kentucky, and Louisville Pulmonary Care, LLC. Dr. Anderson is a graduate of the University of Louisville, where he completed his residency and fellowship. He is board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine, sleep medicine and hospice and palliative medicine, and is a certified NIOSH B reader.
Have you ever suffered from a sleep disorder?
