A new viral trend called sleepmaxxing is taking over TikTok and other platforms, encouraging people to try extreme bedtime hacks for “perfect sleep.” Some of the methods include taping your mouth shut, eating kiwis before bed, or even hanging by the neck with ropes — a technique linked to at least one death. Health experts say many of these tips are unproven and potentially dangerous.
Doctors warn that sleepmaxxing promotes obsessive behaviors around bedtime that can lead to anxiety and insomnia. This fixation on achieving flawless sleep has a name: orthosomnia. It’s becoming more common among people who track their sleep and stress over small changes in their routine.
For those struggling with chronic insomnia or sleep anxiety, many of these unproven hacks only add stress instead of offering real solutions. Sleep experts urge people to focus on evidence-based practices and avoid risky fads promoted by non-experts online.
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