You sit straight up, gasping for air. Your phone says it’s still the middle of the night, but you feel wide awake with a fast heart rate. Too soon, the alarm goes off to start the day. You feel as though you haven’t slept at all, and your overwhelming anxiety kicks in right away. You have to get the kids ready for school and get to the office in time for an important meeting. Little stresses bother you more than they probably should, and you know it’s going to be a rough day. Does this sound familiar?
You could have sleep apnea, a condition where the facial tissues block airflow, interrupting your breathing and causing your body to panic in order to resume breathing. Another likely side effect of sleep apnea is that your brain’s activity is interrupted, affecting your mood and thinking patterns. But how could sleep apnea and anxiety be connected? Can you address both problems with one treatment? Read on to find out!
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