How Anxiety And Sleep Are Intertwined

There are approximately 40 million Americans who are dealing with sleep disorders and another 20 million who occasionally experience irregular sleep patterns. Anxiety is one of the leading causes of sleep disorders, both on the long and short term. How are anxiety and sleep connected?

Studies have shown that stress and anxiety can interfere with sleep patterns. Seven out of ten adults report experiencing chronic stress or have an anxiety disorder. This statistic corresponds to the number of adults who experience sleep disorders or occasionally experience disrupted sleep patterns.

Individuals who suffer from stress or anxiety have reported that these feelings keep them from going to sleep at night. As a result, they cannot get the eight hours of sleep they need. A study has shown that adults get an average of 6.6 hours of sleep each night, which is not enough. Some individuals also experience difficulties with staying asleep due to their stress or anxiety.

However, the connection between the two is more complex. A significant number of adults report having difficulties with falling or staying asleep because of stress but studies have also shown that sleep deprivation can increase stress and anxiety. Adults who suffer from insomnia and other sleep disorders usually do not miss work because of it. Sleep deprivation can quickly accumulate and greatly increase the amount of stress experienced.

A lack of sleep can impact cognitive patterns, which means individuals experience stress more intensely and might not be able to use their cognitive functions to solve problems. Stressful situations can quickly become overwhelming as individuals are unable to deal with them because of a lack of sleep. Feeling constantly sleepy can also lead to depression, which can in turn worsen an anxiety disorder.

It is possible to break the link between anxiety and sleep by making some changes to your lifestyle. Setting aside some time to sleep is a great way to get started. Adopting a regular bed time routine can also help adults who suffer from stress relax and go to sleep. Staring at a screen before going to sleep actually stimulates the brain and can disrupt sleep patterns.

Anxiety disorders and chronic stress can be treated thanks to therapy or medication. Anti-depressants are often used to help patients deal with anxiety disorders. Treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy can be an efficient way to get rid of anxiety. Studies have also shown that relaxation methods such as meditation, yoga or relaxing music can help individuals deal with stress and even help them relax before going to sleep.

Sleep disorders and anxiety are closely connected. It is often difficult to determine which problem appeared first. Excessive anxiety can lead to insomnia and other stress disorders while sleep deprivation or irregular sleep patterns can significantly increase stress levels. Both issues should be treated in order to get satisfying results. Therapy or medication are great ways to deal with anxiety and stress while adopting a more structured lifestyle is the best way to improve sleep patterns and get rid of insomnia.