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