We sometimes have an erroneous perception of our sleep.
“Ohlala, I haven’t slept a wink all night!” Sometimes people wake up with the certainty of having spent hours completely awake, or even not having slept all night. But if we take a serious look at this situation, the reality is often more complex: it is even very likely that sleep phases have indeed taken place. Scientists have even identified what is actually a phase shift in perception but also sleep quality: it’s called paradoxical insomnia.
The American Academy of Sleep (AASM) reports that affected individuals believe they stayed awake for most of the night despite having a near-normal sleep duration. The researchers also established that those affected suffered from insufficient sleep despite objectively sufficient periods of sleep. Paradoxical insomnia can also cause sleep problems over time due to the distress caused by the perceived lack of sleep. And as insomniacs know, the lack of recovery at night can affect daily life: putting words on this phenomenon is a great first step.
Paradoxical insomnia has unknown causes, despite studies. The most recent highlight links between specific personality traits and differences in the neural structure of sleep. As the Sleep Foundation explains, it can be associated with other disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea, depressive manifestations and sometimes digestive dysfunctions.
The solution is usually found through a sleep study or through actigraphy: a form of sleep analysis that involves wearing a wristwatch at home. Paradoxical insomnia also appears to increase stress levels to a similar degree as objective insomnia. People who think they are suffering from paradoxical insomnia should therefore speak with a specialist and not be overwhelmed by this sleep degradation. It is also recommended to take care to eliminate the causes of stress and to punctuate your week with moments of relaxation or meditation.
