This American Life
361: Fear of Sleep
May 11, 2025
Mike Birbiglia, a comedian known for his relatable humor, shares a jaw-dropping story about sleepwalking that led him to jump through a hotel window. Nancy Updike, a producer, reveals the unsettling realities of dealing with bedbugs and roaches, tapping into the fears these pests evoke. The podcast dives into the psychological impacts of nighttime disturbances, from childhood nightmares influenced by horror movies like 'The Shining' to the existential dread of sleep itself. The blend of humor and horror keeps listeners on edge!
59:54
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Quick takeaways
- Fear of sleep often intertwines with deeper anxieties, including childhood fears of death and mortality that persist into adulthood.
- Sleep disorders like sleepwalking and night terrors highlight the vulnerability of individuals during sleep, impacting their mental and emotional well-being.
Deep dives
Fear of Death and Sleep
Fear of sleep can be intricately linked to the fear of death, as exemplified by the speaker's childhood anxiety about mortality. Starting at a young age, the speaker became preoccupied with thoughts of death, especially concerning the dangers of war and the inevitability of being drafted. This led to an overwhelming fear of sleep, equating the experience of falling asleep with an absence of consciousness, paralleling the concept of death. The speaker’s realization that adults around them seemed unbothered by sleep deepened their fear, creating a sense of isolation in their dread of being 'gone' every night.
