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Jennifer Lopez makes everything from rocking glowing skin to sitting down tofamily dinnersto cranking out hardcore workouts look like a breeze. But not everything has always come easy for the 52-year-old singer/actor/mom/designer/entrepreneur—and newlywed! (In case you missed it, Lopez and Ben Affleck married in a quiet ceremony on July 16th.)
In her latest edition of herOn the JLoemail newsletter, Lopez admits that she remembers “feeling physically paralyzed” during severe panic attacks she experienced in her late 20s. She points to lack of sleep as a major factor that brought them on.
“There was a time in my life where I used to sleep 3 to 5 hours a night. I’d be on set all day and in the studio all night and doing junkets and filming videos on the weekends. I was in my late 20s and I thought I was invincible,” she writes. “Until one day, I was sitting in a trailer, and all the work and the stress it brought with it, coupled with not enough sleep to recuperate mentally, caught up with me.”
At that moment, she flipped from thinking through her day’s to-do list in her brain to “all of a sudden I felt as if I couldn’t move … I was completely frozen,” Lopez adds, noting that her symptoms impacted her ability to see clearly.
Looking back, Lopez admits that she prioritized work—including a budding movie career, chart-topping album and burgeoning fashion brand—over healthy habits.
For the last two-plus decades, Lopez has aimed “to live a very healthy and balanced life,” with a mindset focused on “pro-living versus anti-aging.” And yes, that includes sleep.
What Are Panic Attacks?
“Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder that causes sudden fear, losing control, increased heart and respiratory rates, sweating and dizziness, among other physical symptoms,” explainsCarleara Weiss, Ph.D., a sleep science advisor at Aeroflow Sleep in New York City.
The NIMH confirms that the othersymptoms of panic attackscan include:
The Connection Between Sleep and Panic Attacks
Impaired sleep is a common symptom of many mental disorders, includinganxiety disorders, explains Roy Raymann, Ph.D., a Vista, California-based sleep expert and advisor toSomnox.
“Some studies have linked changes in the brain, hormonal level, heart rate variability and respiratory pattern to sleep disturbances in people experiencing anxiety. This ‘hyperarousal’ can interfere with sleep,” Weiss says.
Anxiety Might Be the Reason You Can’t Fall Asleep—Here Are 6 Things That May Help
“Research shows that if you sleep-deprive people, they will report increased anxiety levels the next day. We also know that deep sleep protects against the escalation of anxiety,” Raymann says.
Some of Weiss' research focuses on sleep deprivation and anxiety symptoms in different age groups. To date, her findings suggest that sleep deprivation worsens anxiety symptoms, and that our resilience to fight back and regain control is reduced as we age. But if you seek treatment and start shifting your lifestyle as soon as possible post-panic attack, just like Lopez did, there is great potential forless stressand more sleep, she says.
“Specific interventions, such as regular exercise, can help build more resilience and increase sleep quality and duration, ultimately reducing anxiety symptoms,” Weiss says.
While the cyclical relationship between panic attacks and sleep can sound like a stressful spiral, the connection can actually be a good thing, Raymann believes: “The positive side is that because of this, we now have two starting points to try to deal with the anxiety and its consequences. The first is regular treatment, with medication and therapy. The second is first totry to improve sleep.”
Good sleep is key for health and longevity, not only from a physical perspective, but also for mental and emotional health, he adds. If you notice that anxiety, panic attacks or any other factor is impacting your ability to sleep, talk to your doctor about a personalized action plan.
4 Ways to Get a Better Night’s Sleep, According to an Expert
The Bottom Line
No amount of money or success can prevent any of us from experiencing a mental health challenge. Lopez’s journey shines a spotlight on the importance of keeping tabs on your brain and your body—and the importance of asking for help when things feel overwhelming.
If you are in crisis or you think you may have an emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. And if you’re having suicidal thoughts, call 988 any time, 24/7, to talk to a trained counselor.
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