Orthosomnia causes insomnia due to anxiety: becoming obsessed with sleeping well can worsen rest, warns an expert.
The orthosomnia is a recent phenomenon that describes the obsession with achieving a perfect dream. According to the sleep psychologist Stephanie Romiszewskimany people are worried about the quality of their rest and how a bad night could affect their physical and mental health.
“Many people not only sleep poorly, but also live with the feeling that a poor night’s sleep can ruin their well-being,” explains the specialist. These findings are based on his book Think Less, Sleep Morewhich compiles research from institutions such as harvard and the British healthcare system (NHS) and will be officially launched on January 1, 2026.
Rigid routines and constant sleep monitoring
Romiszewski clarifies that this type of insomnia does not arise from a physiological alteration, but from the anxiety generated by the obsession with sleeping well. Patients develop strict nighttime rituals and constant monitoring of sleep hours. Far from helping, this hyper-awareness turns rest into a source of stress.
“When we treat sleep as something fragile that must be controlled, we push it away”warns the psychologist.
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The role of sleep watches and apps
The massive use of smart watches and sleep monitoring apps has contributed to the orthosomnia. These devices estimate sleep quality from movement and heart rate, but do not measure it directly.
Studies show that those who obsessively monitor their sleep tend to sleep worse and feel more fatigued, even when their rest is normal. A “bad score” on the app can affect mood regardless of actual sleep quality.
There is no magic number of hours of sleep
The myth of exactly eight hours of sleep is wrong. According to Romiszewski, the needs vary between six and nine hours and the quality of rest It is more important than the quantity. Getting a few hours of good sleep can be better than many fragmented hours.
The groggy feeling upon waking up, known as sleep inertiait is normal and can last up to 30 minutes. Maintaining consistent wake times, even on weekends, helps synchronize sleep cycles and reduce this feeling.
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Storm sounds for deep sleep. Heavy rain and thunder for 8 hours
The key: change your relationship with sleep
Romiszewski advises to stop chasing perfection and evaluate rest by how we feel during the day: energy, concentration and mood.
“Sleep is not forced or optimized; it happens when we stop monitoring it,” he says. Trusting your body and reducing anxiety around sleep is the first step to better sleep.
