The effect stress on provoking Rapid Eye movement related parasomnia among undergraduate students at University of Georgia

Abstract

Sleep is crucial for human health, closely tied to mental well-being and cognitive function. Chronic stress, characterized by persistent worry and rumination, disrupts sleep patterns, profoundly impacting physical and psychological health. This disruption extends to parasomnia like sleep paralysis, occurring during transitions between sleep and wakefulness and closely linked to stress mechanisms. Post-traumatic nightmares in PTSD highlight stress's influence on sleep disturbances, worsening symptoms and impairing daytime function due to their vivid and distressing nature. Nightmare disorder, a REM sleep-related parasomnia, exemplifies stress's detrimental effects on sleep, requiring frequent distressing dreams for diagnosis and emphasizing the subjective burden on affected individuals. Understanding the stress-parasomnia relationship is critical for unraveling connections between stress, sleep quality, and overall mental health. Recent research has illuminated triggers of parasomnia, enhancing our understanding of this complex interplay. Stress-related sleep disturbances are often accompanied by difficulties in falling asleep and frequent nighttime awakenings, which further contribute to fatigue, mood disturbances, and impaired concentration during the day.