Trouble sleeping this year? Youâre not alone, Arizona researchers say Many people deal with insomnia at some point in their life. By Madison Cerro | December 22, 2020 at 8:13 AM MST - Updated December 22 at 8:13 AM PHOENIX â Paulina Ochoa never had a problem sleeping until the COVID-19 pandemic began in March and life dealt her a series of serious setbacks. She lost both her jobs, her car was stolen and her aunt died â and thatâs when the nightmares started. The dreams got so bad they sometimes left her paralyzed in bed. Ochoa isnât alone. A sleep study conducted by University of Arizona researchers monitored the role of insomnia during the pandemic, and more than 50% of 1,000 participants reported experiencing insomnia.