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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Unable To Sleep At Night, Afraid About Being Unconscious. How To Get Rid Of This Fear?

Hello, I ve had this problem since I was about 7/8 (I m now 16). Sometimes when I go to bed, & I don t fall asleep immediately I think about sleep in general. It really frightens me kinda to think about it, cause, you re not really conscious are you? It s like your not alive. I m not scared about dying, I just don t like the fact that I m not aware, up & living. It may sound rather odd but I loose sleep because of it. If love to hear if there s anything I could do to help get rid of my fear Thanks
Mon, 31 Dec 2012
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Psychiatrist 's  Response
Hello,
You seem to having constant worry and fear about being in sleep and loosing your awareness. Its a manifestation of anxiety and you need to understand a few things. Sleep is something (behavior) which all the organisms on the earth practice and infact is essential for survival. Imagine your car, suppose you switch on the ignition and keep it running, you feel feel that it should stop after some time to take rest or otherwise it will break down. Similarly if we do not switch off our ignition, then we will break down and cause ill health. Infact people die with sleep deprivation. Sleep further makes you fresh and ready for the next days work. If these thoughts are still distressing, then you should visit a psychiatrist. This problem can be a type of obsessive compulsive disorder and the ruminations have to be controlled with medications (fluvoxamine, clomipramine, fluoxetine etc.) ad with some behaviour therapy (systematic desensitization).
Hope I am able to solve your concerns.
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Unable To Sleep At Night, Afraid About Being Unconscious. How To Get Rid Of This Fear?

Hello, You seem to having constant worry and fear about being in sleep and loosing your awareness. Its a manifestation of anxiety and you need to understand a few things. Sleep is something (behavior) which all the organisms on the earth practice and infact is essential for survival. Imagine your car, suppose you switch on the ignition and keep it running, you feel feel that it should stop after some time to take rest or otherwise it will break down. Similarly if we do not switch off our ignition, then we will break down and cause ill health. Infact people die with sleep deprivation. Sleep further makes you fresh and ready for the next days work. If these thoughts are still distressing, then you should visit a psychiatrist. This problem can be a type of obsessive compulsive disorder and the ruminations have to be controlled with medications (fluvoxamine, clomipramine, fluoxetine etc.) ad with some behaviour therapy (systematic desensitization). Hope I am able to solve your concerns.