“Does lack of rest cause anxiety?”

Yes, lack of rest can significantly contribute to anxiety. Sleep deprivation disrupts normal brain function, particularly in areas responsible for emotion and mood regulation. When you're sleep-deprived, the brain's ability to process emotional information is impaired, often leading to an increase in negative mood states and anxiety. Additionally, poor sleep can heighten the body's stress response, increasing the production of stress hormones like cortisol. This biological response can amplify feelings of anxiety and make individuals more reactive to stressors. Over time, chronic sleep deprivation can lead to a cycle where anxiety makes it difficult to sleep, and lack of sleep fuels more anxiety.

Yes, According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine adults need on average 7 hours of REM sleep to maintain optimal health, anything less than that can have negative side effects such as anxiety and depression. As always, wishing you well.

Sincerely,

Dr. Ryan Koryciak

Sleep deprivation can cause a host of medical and emotional issues, including anxiety. Having good sleep is part of managing anxiety. However, anxiety can also impact sleep onset, quality, and duration.