Symptom 4: Sleep Disturbances: The Silent Aggravator of Fibromyalgia
Sleep disturbances are a common complaint among those living with fibromyalgia. Despite feeling overwhelmingly fatigued, many individuals find it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. Even when sleep does come, it is often unrefreshing, leading to a cycle of fatigue and sleeplessness that can exacerbate other symptoms of fibromyalgia.
The initial stages may involve difficulty falling asleep, characterized by tossing and turning, an inability to quiet the mind, or a feeling of restlessness. This often results in shorter sleep durations and a delay in the onset of sleep, thereby impacting the overall quality of sleep and leading to heightened fatigue the following day.
As the condition progresses, individuals may also experience disruptions in their sleep. These can include frequent awakenings during the night, nightmares, or sleep-related disorders such as sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome. These disturbances can further compromise the quality of sleep, leading to a sense of non-restorative sleep upon waking. (4)
