According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), having an anxiety disorder goes well beyond everyday worries or fears. For instance, let's say you've emailed your boss asking for time off. You're probably going to feel worried until you get a reply that your request has been approved. However, with an anxiety disorder, worries, fears, and anxiousness are constant and severe enough that they can interfere with someone's quality of life. But what about their quality of sleep?
As The American Institute of Stress explains, anxiety and insomnia can be connected. First, let's discuss anxiety causing insomnia. Yes, anxiety can be draining; but, despite this, it can still be difficult for someone to fall asleep simply because they're feeling anxious. On the other hand, not getting enough good quality sleep leaves one more vulnerable to experiencing anxiety. So, anxiety can cause sleep problems, which can cause more anxiety, which can cause more sleep problems. Additionally, insomnia and anxiety can technically be two separate health concerns in the same person. In other words, they're not causing each other, but they can make each other worse.
The bottom line is that figuring out the relationship between insomnia and anxiety can be difficult, but that doesn't mean there aren't treatments available (per The American Institute of Stress). Of course, it's important to work with a medical professional. And one final note: There could be patterns to your insomnia that you're not away of, so you might want to keep a sleep log.
