By Cynthia Dominguez, Opinions Editor

Clarion staff Karissa Jones (12) finds that even coffee cannot combat the strain of a newspaper deadline week on a person’s ability to stay awake.

Many high schoolers treasure every second of sleep that they can get. Whether in the comfort of their own home or in any classroom quiet enough, sleep is an essential part of any student’s life, so many may find difficulty in believing that somniphobia exists.

Somniphobia, the fear of falling asleep, usually impacts children or adults who had recurrent nightmares or sleep terrors as children. Some have fear that originates from the link of falling asleep to dying in their sleep.

Many seek treatment to get to the psychological root of their fear or seek to establish bedtime routines that aim to curve fear and grant them a full night’s sleep.

Hopefully high schoolers will feel more grateful for their nights and class periods of sleep knowing about somniphobia.