Insomnia and Death Anxiety: A Theoretical Model with Therapeutic Implications

Abstract

Insomnia is common, growing in prevalence [...].

Figure 1

Theoretical model of how death anxiety may foster development of insomnia. The impact of death anxiety on the subconscious likely fosters insomnia. Death anxiety fosters loud ego orientations. Both the quiet and loud ego can allay death anxiety. However, quieting the ego results in positive cognitive behavioral effects such as mindfulness, humility, reduced self-focus and acceptance that can mitigate or hinder insomnia. Loud ego protectionism, increased self-focus, and increased self-importance can mitigate death anxiety but also trigger or foster insomnia. Each ego orientation (e.g., loud or quiet) can undermine the psychological protection afforded by the other. Thus, the specific ego orientation used to address death anxiety may either hinder or foster insomnia development (note: arrows with “+” labels foster the behavior they point toward, while arrows with a “−“ label hinder the behavior they point toward).