Can anxiety or depression cause sleep disorders?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Anxiety and depression are common causes of sleep disorders, including insomnia, hypersomnia, and disrupted sleep patterns. These mental health conditions and sleep problems are closely connected and often worsen each other, creating a cycle where poor sleep intensifies anxiety and depression symptoms, and vice versa.

Key points:

Anxiety can make it difficult to fall or stay asleep due to racing thoughts and heightened alertness.
Depression can cause insomnia, early morning awakenings, or excessive sleeping (hypersomnia).
Poor sleep can, in turn, increase the risk of developing or worsening anxiety and depression.

If you're experiencing sleep issues alongside anxiety or depression, understanding the root cause is the first step toward relief. A free, instant, online symptom check can help you identify possible causes and guide your next steps—whether that's self-care strategies or speaking with a healthcare provider. Taking a few minutes now could save you weeks of uncertainty.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/20/2026

Important Next Steps

Learn if sleep problems need care today Discover likely causes of anxiety and depression See if your symptoms need urgent care Find OTC options for sleep difficulties Find a doctor for anxiety and depression Discover home remedies for better sleep Understand if anxiety affects your sleep

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Explanation

Anxiety and depression are mental health issues that can lead to sleep disorders. When someone feels anxious, their mind might be too active, making it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep. Depression can also affect sleep by causing someone to sleep too much or have trouble sleeping at all.

How They Affect Sleep:

Anxiety: When you're anxious, your brain can be too busy with worries, which makes it hard to relax and sleep.
Depression: This can cause changes in sleep patterns, like sleeping too much or too little.

The Connection:

Bidirectional Relationship: Anxiety and depression can make sleep problems worse, and having sleep problems can make anxiety and depression worse. This means they can affect each other in both directions.

If you or someone you know is struggling with these issues, it might help to talk to a healthcare provider or use a free symptom checker to better understand what you're experiencing and get personalized guidance on next steps.

(References)

Akpoveta ED, Okpete UE, & Byeon H. (2025). Sleep disorders and mental health: Understanding the .... World journal of psychiatry, 40574781.
Yasugaki S, Okamura H, Kaneko A, & Hayashi Y. (2025). Bidirectional relationship between sleep and depression. Neuroscience research, 37116584.
Nyer M, Farabaugh A, Fehling K, Soskin D, Holt D, Papakostas GI, et al. (2013). Relationship between sleep disturbance and depression .... Depression and anxiety, 23681944.

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