Anxiety

Anxiety is a typical human reaction to stress. But too much anxiety can get in the way of living a healthy, happy life.

Anxiety is your body’s natural response to stress, where you feel apprehension or fear about what’s going to happen next. You may have an anxiety disorder if your feelings of anxiety:

• are extreme
• last for 6 months or longer
• are interfering with your daily life and relationships

According to Mental Health America, nearly two-thirds of Americans state that stress causes them to lose sleep. They also note that poor sleep habits have been linked to problems like depression and anxiety.

Stress and anxiety often go hand in hand. Stress comes from the demands placed on your brain and body. Anxiety is when you feel high levels of worry, unease, or fear.

Anxiety can certainly be an offshoot of episodic or chronic stress.

Having both stress and anxiety can have a severe negative impact on your health, making you more likely to develop:

• high blood pressure
• heart disease
• diabetes
• panic disorder
• depression

Anxiety and insomnia

Research has found that as many as 36%Trusted Source of people with an anxiety disorder also have insomnia.

Does anxiety cause insomnia, or does insomnia 
cause anxiety?

This question typically depends on which came first.


Sleep deprivation can elevate the risk for anxiety disorders. Insomnia can also worsen the symptoms of anxiety disorders or prevent recovery. Anxiety can also contribute to disrupted sleep, often in the form of insomnia or nightmares.

Takeaway

Which comes first: anxiety or insomnia? Either one.


According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety causes sleep problems, and sleep deprivation can cause an anxiety disorder.