JANUARY 7 • 2021 | 35

T

he recent surge in
COVID-19 cases is
stressing many aspects
of life — from health care to
work, school, finances and
family life. That stress is caus-
ing increased sleep problems,
especially for women, accord-
ing to some to some local phy-
sicians and therapists. Many
people are working from home,
and women typically have
more family obligations such as
childcare.
“My patients are feeling it
more now since we’re going on
nine months. Yes, patients have
more insomnia about the virus,
work and family,” says Suzanne
Rogers, a licensed social work-
er and therapist.
Meeta Singh, M.D., is a
psychiatrist and
sleep medicine
specialist with
the Henry Ford
Health System.
“There is always
an emergence of

sleep problems when there is
a natural disaster or war — it’s
localized,” she says. “With
COVID there is unprecedented
stress — health, employment,
money issues, work and family
obligations.”
Many health care workers
are women, she points out, and
they are experiencing more
insomnia or waking up with-
out feeling refreshed. Some
patients report strange dreams
and nightmares.
“Women have a higher pre-
dilection for sleep problems,”
says Singh. “It could be hor-
monal. Anxiety and depression
are risk factors for insomnia,
which can be premenstrual.”
She adds that women have “an
increased burden” during the
pandemic because they have
family obligations in addition
to working from home.
Nina Robb, M.D., of
Bloomfield Township, is a
retired emergency physician
whose clinic evaluates and

certifies medical
marijuana patients.
She has experi-
enced an increase
in people contact-
ing her about anx-
iety that is causing
sleep problems.
While many patients report
that marijuana improves their
sleep, insomnia, she says, is
not a qualifying condition for
medical marijuana certification
in Michigan.
“THC (tetrahydrocannabinol
— a component of cannabis)
can be relaxing and sleep-
inducing in small amounts.
However, for some people, or
in larger amounts, it can be
stimulating and worsen insom-
nia,” Robb explains. She adds
that CBD (cannabidiol), anoth-
er marijuana component, can
be very effective for sleep.
Miriam Halprin of
Bloomfield Township is a
social worker and care coordi-
nator for My Covid Response,
a partnership through Oakland
University that helps Oakland
County residents with social
support and referrals to
community agencies for spe-
cific services. She is also the
Michigan Chapter Region 8
representative of the National
Association of Social Workers.
“
Anxiety is a common topic for
social workers,” she notes.
On a personal level, Halprin
takes walks, gardens and reads
to reduce stress. She has found
that since her two teenagers
don’t have to get up to leave
for school in the morning,
they tend to stay up later.
Homework and socializing
with their friends have an
impact on this as well. After
they are settled, she enjoys
reading, watching a PBS docu-
mentary or a late night (light)
comedy at low/moderate
volume in a dimly lit room to
reduce anxiety and facilitate
better sleep. She “goes to sleep
late and gets up early.”

Nikki Budaj-Chatfield of
West Bloomfield owns three
dog-grooming businesses so
she can’t work from home.
With two young children, she
has the “challenges of child-
care, praying that their babysit-
ters are careful and making
good choices.”
She attributes an increase
in sleep problems during the
last six months to “anxiety
heightened by the pandemic.”
Budaj says that seeing a thera-
pist helps with her
anxiety. In addi-
tion, she relies on
guided meditations
before going to
sleep and during
the night if she
wakes up.

AVOID STRESS
Meditation is one of the
healthy lifestyle choices that
are recommended for better
sleep. “General exercise is
really important,” Robb says.
“The more we wear ourselves
out, the better we sleep. Avoid
things that create stress before
bedtime.” She finds yoga with
gentle stretching and a hot bath
can be helpful.
Singh recommends devel-
oping a “proactive bedtime
routine” about 45-60 minutes
before going to bed. “Turn off
bright lights, television and
don’t work,” she says. Pre-
bedtime activities can include a
hot bath, stretches, meditation
and reading. Alcohol and caf-
feine should be avoided.
While alcohol can make
it easier to fall asleep, as it
metabolizes, it “fractures
dream sleep,” which can trig-
ger wakeups during the night.
Regular exercise is helpful, and
naps should be avoided, Singh
adds. If lack of sleep or poor
sleep quality impairs the ability
to work and wellbeing during
the day, Singh recommends
seeing a physician for profes-
sional help.

SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

HEALTH

Singh

Anxiety
Keeping
You Awake?

Pandemic takes a toll
on sleep.

Robb

Budaj-
Chatfield