Getting a good night’s rest under stressful conditions is hard enough but sleeping well during an ongoing pandemic can feel impossible on some nights. This syndrome even has a name.

 

The medical profession calls it .…Coronasomnia!

 

The increase in sleep disturbances is due to increased stress and anxiety that the pandemic has brought on, including the impact of the uncertainty and the constant barrage of information we are exposed to at this time, according to doctors.

 

Bereavement, isolation, loss of income, and fear are triggering mental health conditions or exacerbating existing ones. 

 

Many people may be facing increased levels of alcohol and drug use, insomnia, and anxiety.

Meanwhile, COVID-19 itself can lead to neurological and mental complications, such as delirium, agitation, and stroke. 

 

People with pre-existing mental, neurological or substance use disorders are also more vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection ̶ they may stand a higher risk of severe outcomes and even death.

 

If you are having trouble sleeping because of the pandemic, you are not alone.

 

Global issue

 

At the start of the lockdowns, people reported an increased or persistent loss of sleep over worry.

The effects of shift work and other related factors lead to insomnia.

 

These symptoms were very strong among registered nurses in Thailand, where the nursing profession often involves working in shifts, which may lead to an increased risk of insomnia symptoms.

 

A Thai Nurse study, which included the responses of 18,189 registered nurses, concluded that almost one-quarter reported experiencing at least one insomnia symptom.

 

In the UK, a recent study showed that the number of people experiencing insomnia increased from 1 in 6 to 1 in 4.

 

In China, insomnia rates rose from 14.6% to 20% during the peak lockdown period.

 

2.77 million Google searches 

 

Perhaps more telling was that in the first five months of 2020, people across the States made 2.77 million Google searches for “Insomnia.” This was an increase of 58% in the previous three years.

 

The Sleep Foundation suggests that there are a handful of steps that can promote better sleep during the coronavirus pandemic.

 

Establishing a routine, reserving your bed for sleep, exposure to light, planning your naps, staying active, and using relaxation techniques will all help. 

 

You can check out their full list of tips at https://www.sleepfoundation.org/ 

However, perhaps the best tip is just to avoid watching or reading the news!

 

Do you have any better suggestions? Please let us know.

 

Note:

“Coronasomnia” is a new term that refers to sleep problems related to the pandemic. With increased stress and anxiety, there is a definite impact on our sleep and mental health, and the best way to combat it is to stick to good sleep hygiene practices.

 

The coronavirus pandemic doesn’t affect everyone in the same way. Of course, patients with the virus and front-line medical workers face the brunt of the direct impacts of the disease. But the consequences — economically, mentally, and emotionally — have spread far and wide, and pose significant barriers to sleep.

 

 

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2022-01-17

 

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Long covid. My friend hasn't slept properly since he had covid in March 2020 

18 minutes ago, webfact said:

The medical profession calls it .…Coronasomnia

I call it drinking too much beer 

Guess we just have to go back and learn from the cave man. Instead of bonking a peace maker in a woman´s head for marriage, they just have to smack their own heads. Problem solved.

Buy the way. I never slept better, as it´s nice and quiet all around.

It's crazy they even have a name for this....

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Getting a good night’s rest under stressful conditions is hard enough but sleeping well during an ongoing pandemic can feel impossible on some nights. This syndrome even has a name.

Teetotal?

Drink a medium amount of alcohol, then some medicinal cannabis, and you'll sleep all night.

Must be fake news. I know of no situation on earth where Thais can not sleep ????

7 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Guess we just have to go back and learn from the cave man. Instead of bonking a peace maker in a woman´s head for marriage, they just have to smack their own heads. Problem solved.

Buy the way. I never slept better, as it´s nice and quiet all around.

I used to sleep well with all the Lockdowns / Bar closures Etc

But over the last few weeks, there seems to be an upsurge in the number of people that seem to want to Party and get drunk

Maybe its as a release from the Covid lockdowns Etc, or just a blind faith belief that Covid is near the end as many would have us believe.

11 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

I call it drinking too much beer 

 

Noooooo!

 

Definitely not drinking enough beer!!

 

11 hours ago, webfact said:

Perhaps more telling was that in the first five months of 2020, people across the States made 2.77 million Google searches for “Insomnia.” This was an increase of 58% in the previous three years.

 

Of course, some movies are becoming more popular during Covid

 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119375/

 

 

and

 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0278504/

 

 

Or even ...

 

 

 

 

 

I find taking a couple of "Dimenhydrinate  50mg"  gives me a good nights sleep.

Don't know why this should be as it is an antihistamine, but for some reason it just works for me. 

"Dimenhydrinate is an antihistamine used to prevent and treat nausea, vomiting, and dizziness caused by motion sickness"

 

Seems nonsensical to me, or a complete non-issue. I actually get MORE quality sleep, not less, simply because the clubs are closed and "restaurants" stop serving alcohol early.

 

Same thing is being reported in the UK. More people are going to GP's with sleeping difficulties requesting medication. It may be due to lack of exercise i.e. not getting tired enough. Or, in the case of Thailand expats, lack of alcohol not getting drunk enough to collapse in a coma after a session at the bar. Thai wives/girlfriends must be going crazy trying to find ways to prevent their partners demanding conjugation at night????????????????

During the first year of the pandemic, I suspect I suffered with a low-level anxiety and some insomnia.   I attributed the insomnia to not working and not having a regular schedule.  

 

I didn't really notice the anxiety until I got my first vaccination shot.  Suddenly, a rather pervasive malaise was gone.  I felt like going somewhere and doing something.  I felt a little safer.   I had not been depressed but I didn't quite rise to the level of being happy.   

 

Glad they showed an expats picture as people who are having sleep problems.  My Thai family can sleep almost anywhere, at least nap in the day almost anywhere.

  Some Thais who are out of work and stressed may be having the troubles as well for sure. I guess we will need a new dictionary for all the Corona virus related new terms.

  

A lot of people here are missing the point. Same thing with depression. Just because it is not happening to you, doesn't mean it isn't happening. Short sightedness of some people..

On 1/17/2022 at 10:22 AM, SAFETY FIRST said:

I call it drinking too much beer 

Yeah ... Corona = cat pee

Not this little black duck. The peace and quiet on the island is sublime and the nights, starry, for the most part, deathly quiet.