Insomnia, Anxiety, Depression: The Chicken or the egg story?

Author: Dr. Ionel Z. Donca

Current scientific evidence suggests that insomnia, anxiety, and depression have a bidirectional association. Insomnia predisposes people to anxiety and depression as anxiety and depression predispose people to insomnia. Insomnia, anxiety, and depression are associated with psychosocial distress and physical functional impairment.  

Insomnia:

People with insomnia complain of difficulty falling asleep and/or difficulty staying asleep.  Persistent sleep difficulty is usually associated with daytime dysfunction.  Depending on its duration, insomnia can be short-term or chronic.  Short-term insomnia lasts a few days or weeks and usually occurs in response to an identifiable stressor.  Chronic insomnia is difficulty sleeping that lasts more than a few months, with or without an identifiable trigger.  

Anxiety:

People with anxiety experience excessive and persistent worry that is difficult to control, leading to apprehension, irritability, and fatigue.  Genetic factors predispose individuals to develop anxiety in the context of prior trauma or stressful life events.  While childhood trauma can be a trigger for developing anxiety, personality factors could create a continuous bias towards identifying un-real threats and generating negative interpretations.  People with anxiety experience excessive worry about health, work, relationships, and minor daily matters.  This persistent state can cause distress and impairment in psychosocial functioning.

Depression:

Depression is a state of sadness and/or loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. Scientific evidence suggests an interplay between genetic and environmental factors leads to depression. Depression can manifest through various symptoms, including sleep disturbances, altered eating habits, low levels of energy, and decreased ability to concentrate or make decisions.  Depression can also cause physical symptoms and increase the risk for specific medical conditions by affecting anything from the heart to the immune system.

At Great Lakes Care, we work to improve our patient's physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. We work with our patients to develop a plan of care to enhance their lifestyle, utilizing proper diet, exercise, sleep, and medications if needed. Ready to overcome your Insomnia, Anxiety, and Depression? Schedule your in-person or virtual appointment today.