You get itchy in bed with anxiety because stress triggers your "fight-or-flight" response, releasing histamines and cortisol, which makes skin more sensitive and inflamed, turning minor sensations into intense itches, often worsened by a vicious cycle where anxiety makes itching worse and itching makes anxiety worse, especially at night when distractions fade. It's a real physical response, sometimes linked to underlying nerve or immune system changes from chronic stress.
Stress and anxiety can contribute to nighttime itching, as can depression and schizophrenia. Infestations. Bed bugs, lice and scabies all cause itching, especially at night.
Itchy skin at night, also known as nocturnal pruritus, happens when you have the urge to itch and scratch your skin in the middle of the night. This can disturb your sleep. Itchy skin at night can happen because of changes to your body temperature, dry skin or as a symptom of an underlying condition.
Psychogenic itch may accompany other psychiatric conditions like depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorders, psychoses, and substance use9,14,15.
Stress or anxiety can worsen itching. Many people have found that counseling, behavior modification therapy, acupuncture, meditation and yoga can help reduce stress or anxiety. Try nonprescription oral allergy medicine.
There's no single "hardest" mental illness, but Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Schizophrenia, and severe/treatment-resistant conditions like depression or bipolar disorder are frequently cited due to extreme emotional volatility, distorted reality, profound functional impairment, and significant impact on relationships and daily life, making them incredibly challenging to live with and manage. The difficulty often stems from intense internal pain, difficulty regulating emotions, social isolation, and the pervasive nature of symptoms.
Nocturnal pruritus may be related to the circadian rhythm of itch mediators and possibly the disruption of such patterns. Diurnal changes in skin physiology, such as temperature and barrier function, may also play a role.
When we experience stress, the release of stress hormones like cortisol can trigger sensory symptoms such as itching or a burning sensation. Additionally, raised levels of cortisol have been shown to increase skin inflammation, impair skin barrier function and wound healing, and suppress immunity.
Symptoms
An anxiety rash often appears as red, raised, itchy patches of skin, resembling hives or heat rash. The rash can occur anywhere on the body, but common areas include the face, neck, chest, and arms. For some individuals, the rash may look like small clusters of bumps, while for others, larger, swollen welts may appear.
Many people already know that activities like yoga, exercise, meditation and talk therapy can help reduce anxiety.
The fluctuation in oestrogen levels can lead to dryness, reduced collagen production, and changes in the skin's elasticity, which lead to the sensation of itchy skin.
Too much cortisol can cause some of the main symptoms of Cushing syndrome — a fatty hump between the shoulders, a rounded face, and pink or purple stretch marks on the skin. Cushing syndrome also can cause high blood pressure or bone loss. Sometimes, it can cause type 2 diabetes.
While there's no single "best," Ashwagandha is highly researched and effective for chronic stress, alongside Magnesium, Omega-3s, and L-theanine, which help balance the stress response system (HPA axis) and inflammation; however, always consult a doctor to find what's right for you, as supplements work best with lifestyle changes like sleep and nutrition.
These microscopic pests often thrive in mattresses, pillows and upholstered furniture. Visible signs of a mite infestation—Though mites are nearly invisible to the naked eye, you may notice tiny black specks or clusters—potentially droppings or dead mites—on bedding, upholstery or carpets.
Unless you look through a microscope, you won't see dust mites. These tiny critters feed on the dead skin cells that people and pets shed. They favor warm and moist environments, so they often reside in mattresses, pillows, bedding, upholstered furniture, carpet and rugs.
"Demodex mites live on our skin and are especially prominent in areas where we have a lot of oil like the face or the middle of the chest." Even worse, said mites thrive in unsanitary environments, like Xu's dirty pillowcase.
Examples include dry skin (xerosis), eczema (dermatitis), psoriasis, scabies, parasites, burns, scars, insect bites and hives. Internal diseases. Itching on the whole body might be a symptom of an underlying illness, such as liver disease, kidney disease, anemia, diabetes, thyroid problems and certain cancers.
Rarely, nighttime itching signals a more serious health condition, such as hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland) or liver or kidney disease. Try these strategies to ease the itch: Change your bedding or pajamas to softer, cotton-rich versions. Don't linger in a bath or shower, which can lead to dry skin.
How to treat itchy skin yourself
According to psychology, there are specific personality types that are notoriously difficult to live with. These can include the passive-aggressive communicator, the relentless critic, or the energy-draining pessimist. However, recognizing these traits is the first step toward managing the stress they cause.
Symptoms - Borderline personality disorder
If you think depression, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder are the mental illnesses most commonly linked to an early death, you're wrong. Eating disorders—including anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and binge eating— are the most lethal mental health conditions, according to research in Current Psychiatry Reports.
Estrogen deficiency during menopause affects the structure, thickness, and moisture of tissues throughout your body, including your skin. This can lead to dryness and itching.