Sleep deprivation and anxiety
By Team PCPA
Have a few nights of poor sleep left you feeling more worried than usual? You are not alone! Sleep deprivation and anxiety are strongly linked. In one study, researchers found that sleep deprived healthy adults, reported higher levels of stress, anger and anxiety on low stress tasks compared to adults who had sufficient sleep (Minkel, Banks, Htaik, Moreta, Jones, McGlinchev and Dinges, 2012). In another study both adolescents and adults who were sleep deprived believed potential catastrophes were more likely to occur, compared to those who slept adequately (Talbot, McGlinchey, Kaplan, Dahl and Harvey, 2010). In other words, sleep deprived Sam was more likely to believe that he was going to flunk his exam, compared to well-rested Valerie!
In a recent study by neuroscientists at Berkley, an even more specific relationship between lack of sleep and anxiety was found. In their research, they found that even for healthy adults, lack of sleep can cause increased activity in some important brain regions, namely the insular cortex and the amygdala. The increased brain activity in these regions, is the same activity seen in the brains of individuals with anxiety disorders (Goldstein, Greer, Saletin, Harvey, Nitschke and Walker, 2013). This means that lack of sleep seems to cause even healthy adults to experience excessive worry. This study also found that people who tend to be prone to worrying, are more at risk for developing anxiety disorders when they experience lack of sleep (Goldstein et. al., 2013).
Therefore, if you are going through a life transition that is leaving you getting less than enough sleep (such as having a baby, planning a wedding, or taking an important exam), it is very likely that you could be feeling more anxious than usual. Moreover, if you know you are the type that is already worry prone, it is possible that this transition will leave you feeling extremely worried, unlike yourself, or even a bit out of control. If this happens, behavioral health clinicians at Primary Care Psychology Associates can help you develop specific tools to increase your sleep, combat anxiety and get you feeling like yourself again. Treatment is short-term, goal oriented, and effective as you work with a supportive team of professionals that provide integrated medical and psychological care.
Call or email today to find out more about Behavioral Management of disrupted sleep, anxiety and the other services we provide at PCPA!
In a recent study by neuroscientists at Berkley, an even more specific relationship between lack of sleep and anxiety was found. In their research, they found that even for healthy adults, lack of sleep can cause increased activity in some important brain regions, namely the insular cortex and the amygdala. The increased brain activity in these regions, is the same activity seen in the brains of individuals with anxiety disorders (Goldstein, Greer, Saletin, Harvey, Nitschke and Walker, 2013). This means that lack of sleep seems to cause even healthy adults to experience excessive worry. This study also found that people who tend to be prone to worrying, are more at risk for developing anxiety disorders when they experience lack of sleep (Goldstein et. al., 2013).
Therefore, if you are going through a life transition that is leaving you getting less than enough sleep (such as having a baby, planning a wedding, or taking an important exam), it is very likely that you could be feeling more anxious than usual. Moreover, if you know you are the type that is already worry prone, it is possible that this transition will leave you feeling extremely worried, unlike yourself, or even a bit out of control. If this happens, behavioral health clinicians at Primary Care Psychology Associates can help you develop specific tools to increase your sleep, combat anxiety and get you feeling like yourself again. Treatment is short-term, goal oriented, and effective as you work with a supportive team of professionals that provide integrated medical and psychological care.
Call or email today to find out more about Behavioral Management of disrupted sleep, anxiety and the other services we provide at PCPA!
