We all know that stress is deeply related to physical health. It turns out your body may actually be trying to send you messages through your sleep habits.
Liz Tenutoalso known as workout witchis an expert in helping clients heal from trauma through somatic exercise. She recently shared on TikTok 10 signs your body may be going into a stress response. Commonly referred to as the “fight or flight'' response..
As you can imagine, constantly being stuck in a loop like this isn't healthy for your body.
If you do at least 3 of these 10 things while you sleep, your body can go into a stress response.
1. I wake up sweating.
No one likes the feeling of waking up in the morning drenched in sweat. But this could actually be a sign of something more than just a blanket that's too warm. According to the Mayo ClinicNight sweats can be caused by several different medical conditions, including anxiety disorders.
2. Bruxism.
Grinding your teeth during sleep can also be a sign of a stress response. If teeth grinding is severe, it may lead to temporomandibular joint disorder or temporomandibular joint disorder. temporomandibular joint disorder.
3. I have frequent nightmares.
No one likes waking up with disturbing dreams. If this happens frequently, it may be a sign of a more serious problem.
Mayo Clinic goes public Stress, anxiety, and trauma are the main causes of nightmares. If your body is under constant stress, you can fall into a pattern of having nightmares on a regular basis.
4. Sleep in the arm of a Tyrannosaurus.
Sleeping in the arms of a Tyrannosaurus happens when you curl up on your side, pull your arms in front of your chest, and tuck your hands into your neck. Their sleeping position resembles the short arms of ancient dinosaurs.
“This happens when the nervous system becomes overloaded or dysregulated and has difficulty coming out of that state, even when we're asleep,” says Tenuto. Not only is this a sign of a stress response, it can also cause significant pain.
5. Talk in your sleep.
Sleep talking may seem like a joke, but it can be serious.In many cases it is possible caused by anxiety or stress.
The subconscious mind can do strange things, especially when under pressure. Muttering about something in your sleep is one of them.
6. I sleepwalk regularly.
For many people, sleepwalking may seem like something out of a movie. For others, it's part of their reality.
This may also be related to stress.according to cleveland clinic“Studies have linked anxiety, stress, childhood trauma, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to an increased risk of sleepwalking.” may be considered as a potential cause.
7. I wake up many times during the night.
Getting enough sleep is so important that waking up irregularly during the night can be very irritating. But apparently it's more than just a nuisance. Waking up during the night is another sign that your body is having a stress response.
According to Calm, “Stress and anxiety can activate the body's 'fight-or-flight' response, making it difficult to stay asleep.” When you're under high stress, it becomes difficult for your body to truly rest. This can make staying asleep particularly difficult.
8. I have trouble falling asleep.
If you toss and turn instead of falling asleep quickly, it could be a sign of a stress response. “High levels of stress disrupt sleep by prolonging the time it takes to fall asleep and by fragmenting sleep. Lack of sleep triggers our body's stress response system, which increases the release of stress hormones, or cortisol. It causes a rise and further disrupts sleep.” Written by Baylor College of Medicine.
9. I feel tired when I wake up.
It's natural for people to feel tired after waking up in the middle of the night or having trouble falling asleep. However, more problems can occur if your body is experiencing a stress response.Anxiety can cause the following symptoms in the body Release hormones to prepare to fight, flight, or freeze. The sudden onset of this hormone can cause fatigue.
So even if you feel like you've had a good night's sleep, you may still feel tired when you wake up.
10. Waking up with unexplained pain and tension.
Stress naturally causes muscle tension. The American Psychological Association states: It's almost like a “reflection”. Sleeping in a position similar to a Tyrannosaurus arm can cause muscle tension, which can cause pain. Waking up in the morning feeling tense and sore is a sure sign that your body is under stress.
Stress is never healthy for the body, but being in a full stress response is an indication that your body's regulation is truly out of whack.
It's not healthy to be in fight-or-flight mode all the time. If you notice your body working this way, it may be a sign that it's time to seek help.
Mary-Faith Martinez is a writer for YourTango, covering entertainment, news and relationships topics.
