Stress and anxiety may cause sleeping problems or make existing problems worse. And having an anxiety disorder can only exacerbate the problem.

Anxiety disorders are a unique group of illnesses that fill people’s lives with persistent, excessive, and unreasonable anxiety, worry, and fear. They include generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), and specific phobias.

70% of adults in the United States say they experience stress or anxiety daily,
and most say it interferes at least moderately with their lives. About one-third report persistent stress or excessive anxiety daily or that they have had an anxiety or panic attack. Seven out of ten of those adults say they have trouble sleeping.

These are among the findings of the 2007 Stress & Anxiety Disorders Survey, a report examining the effects of anxiety disorders and everyday stress and anxiety on sleep. The survey was commissioned by the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA).

The majority of adults with a stress-induced sleep problem experience it at least once per week, and more than half experience it at least several times a week.

Three-fourths of adults whose sleep is affected by stress or anxiety say that their sleep problems have also increased their stress and anxiety: 54% say that stress or anxiety increased their anxiety about falling asleep at night, and 52% of men and 42% of women reported it
affected their ability to remain focused the next day.

Does an anxiety disorder lead to a sleep disorder, or vice versa?

Either may be possible. Anxiety does cause sleeping problems, and new research suggests sleep deprivation can cause an anxiety disorder. That’s because a lack of sleep stimulates the part of the brain most closely associated with depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric disorders. Research also shows that some form of sleep disruption is present in nearly all psychiatric disorders.

Insomnia is part of a vicious cycle for those living with anxiety disorders,  Many symptoms of anxiety disorders, including excessive stress, persistent worry, obsessive thoughts, gastrointestinal problems, and nightmares are likely to rob precious sleep. And some antidepressants commonly prescribed for anxiety disorders may cause sleep difficulties.

More Information About Anxiety

Anxiety Disorders Association of America

8730 Georgia Ave., Suite 600
Silver Spring, MD 20910    (240-485-1001)     www.aada.org

National Institute of Mental Health

www.nimh.nih.gov