It is completely natural to feel scared when sleep disruptions and physical symptoms like a clenched jaw persist for over a year, as your mind and body are simply trying to signal that they are holding onto unaddressed stress. When we carry tension or anxiety, it often manifests physically during sleep leading to middle of the night awakenings and involuntary muscle tightness so feeling overwhelmed by this cycle is a very valid response. Counseling can offer a safe, supportive space to explore the root causes of this underlying stress, help you understand the connection between your thoughts and physical reactions, and equip you with practical tools to ease your mind and help your body relax before sleep.

It's anxiety

It seems to be phobia or anxiety which is leading to clenching of the jaw or grinding of the teeth and ultimately affecting your sleep. It needs to be treated asap otherwise it may get complicated and can affect your personal and social life. It can be well treated with counseling sessions and homeopathic medicine effectively and without any side effects. It needs to be treated in a holistic approach for complete recovery. You need an expert psychologist who is a good homeopathic physician.

Waking up repeatedly at night along with jaw clenching for over a year can be associated with stress or anxiety, but it can also have physical or sleep-related causes. It would be better not to assume it is anxiety without an assessment.