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As the financial crisis deepens, it shouldn't come as a surprise that insomnia is on the rise. Anecdotally, we all know that most people don't sleep as well when under high stress. Now, come the first news reports that sleep disorders and disruptions are growing. A story in a California paper today reports that sleep researchers are hearing more about the economy as a stressor and a reason for increases in and recurrences of sleep disorders. Christine Won, associate director of the Sleep Disorders Center at UCSF Medical Center is quoted:.

"They complain about a lot of anxiety, mind-racing and an inability to relax and unwind," Won says. 'I can only assume that the more our economy is in turmoil, the bigger toll it will take on our sleep.' People's ability to triumph over their recession-induced insomnia depends on how effective their coping mechanisms are and how much control they have over their finances, she adds."

  A study of US workers in October found that 92% of them admitted to sleeping less because of worrying about something related to the financial crisis - cost of living, credit card debt, etc. And the effects aren't limited to the US. Stories from Canada to Singapore include references to sleep loss over the situation.