The link between anxiety and insomnia

Why anxiety affects sleep

Anneli Roberts, 28, has anxiety and has had trouble sleeping since she was 16.

"During particularly difficult periods of anxiety, I am regularly up until 3 or 4 am, which is obviously not very good for work," she says.

"Mostly, my insomnia is caused by anxiety and I'm unable to sleep due to worrying - or sometimes the physical symptoms of anxiety can keep me up too. But after a night of being awake, I am far more prone to anxiety during the day."

Professor Kevin Morgan, of the University of Loughborough’s Clinical Sleep Research Unit, explains why anxiety impacts sleep.

"Anxiety in a generalised sense creates what we will refer to as arousal, or excitement or alertness," he says. "If you go to bed intending to go to sleep, but you are anxious - and it doesn't really matter what you pin that anxiety to - you've already diminished your chances of falling asleep effectively."

Stress hormones

Arousal is triggered by the 'fight or flight' response, which releases the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline and prevents you from falling asleep. It's complicated further as research shows anxiety and stress release similar hormones too.

"We discriminate between problems of getting to sleep, and problems with staying asleep, but basically they are the same thing when it comes to anxiety," Morgan says.

"Waking up in the night - to go to the toilet, for example - is normal. But then a problem arises when you try to get back to sleep.

"If your brain kicks in with a complex of anxiety feelings about things other than going to sleep, then you are going to find it difficult to return to sleep."

Vicious cycle of insomnia

Anxiety and insomnia work in a cyclical way - essentially, it's a two-way street. "One of the consequences of not being able to go to sleep is that it generates anxiety," Morgan explains.

"For people who have got daytime commitments, not being able to go to sleep - when you relentlessly cannot initiate sleep - this generates anxiety specific to sleep. We refer to it as a vicious cycle of insomnia.

"If you can't go to sleep, you start anticipating the impact the sleeplessness will have on your performance the next day," he explains.

The anxiety triggered may encourage you to emphasise your efforts to get to sleep, which is futile.

"If you try to go to sleep, you will almost certainly keep yourself awake. And the reason for that is that trying to go to sleep generates arousal. It makes you more alert," Morgan says.

"If we focus on the arousing qualities of anxiety, then breaking the vicious cycle of insomnia becomes the strongest tool for fixing insomnia."

Not everybody needs eight hours of sleep a night, as some people function well on less and others find they need more. But if you aren't sleeping well, there are steps you can take to address the problem.

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Get help for anxiety

Anxiety is a common mental health issue, affecting 5.9 in 100 people, according to the charity Mind. Tackling anxiety can be the first step to sleeping better, which might mean trying self-help techniques such as mindfulness, talking treatments, cognitive behavioural therapy or medication. Sleep anxiety can lead to sleep loss, which can result in various health problems as well as a sleep disorder Your GP will be able to give you medical advice or point you in the right direction to find the best treatment.Your GP will be able to point you in the right direction to find the best treatment for you.

See your GP

Your GP may be able to find out what is causing your sleeping problems, so you can access the right treatment. They may be able to refer you to a therapist for cognitive behavioural therapy, which can help you change the thoughts and behaviours that prevent you from falling asleep.

Sleeping pills are not commonly prescribed unless nothing else has worked, as they can have serious side effects and lead to dependency. They may be prescribed for short periods of time, however, to help you get into a routine of sleeping.

Stick to a routine

Chris Brantner, sleep science coach at Sleepio, says creating a routine nis key to sleeping better.

"Set a bedtime and a wake time and stick to them. About an hour before bed, institute a bedtime routine," he says. "Your routine should start with turning off devices, as they're notorious for keeping us awake. Not to mention, devices like smartphones are often sources of stress and anxiety."

Making the bedroom a sleep-friendly place can also help - which means making sure your bed is comfortable and the room isn't too hot or light.

Make lifestyle changes

Cutting down on caffeinated drinks such as tea, coffee or cola may help you sleep better.

Getting enough physical exercise during the day is also crucial for relieving stress and tension. It can also help with anxiety too - research published in the the American Journal of Psychiatry in 2017 found just one hour of exercise can help your mental well-being.

Avoid alcohol

Although alcohol might make you fall asleep quicker, it impairs the quality of your sleep. Avoid smoking cigarettes because nicotine is a stimulant.

Make time to relax

"Dim the lights and engage in a calming activity. This could be yoga, drinking hot tea, a warm bath," Brantner says.

Meditation or mindfulness can help clear the mind and promote relaxation before bed. Helpful apps such as Headspace provide guided meditations.

Write a to-do list

"Before climbing into bed, create a to-do list for the next day," Brantner says. "Recent research has shown that this will help you offload worries of the next day, thus helping to reduce anxiety and wind down before bed."