A study suggests that lack of sleep prevents the brain from acclimatizing to threatening environments, potentially contributing to chronic anxiety.

Researchers have found that sleep-deprived individuals struggle to adapt to threatening situations, remaining in a state of hypervigilance. While well-rested people show reduced stress after repeated exposure to unsettling environments, those who lack sleep maintain high stress levels. This inability to acclimatize may explain why sleep loss is linked to the development and persistence of anxiety disorders.

Virtual reality study methodology

Emma Sullivan at the University of Melbourne and her colleagues studied 54 healthy adults aged 18 to 30. Half of the participants stayed awake overnight, while the others slept for 8 hours in a lab. The following morning, all participants navigated an immersive virtual world that transitioned from a bright office to a dark, unsettling basement filled with ominous sounds.

Stress responses and heart health

Researchers monitored heart rates and skin-conductance levels to track fight-or-flight responses. While all participants initially showed stress, only the well-rested group demonstrated a reduction in stress upon re-entering the threatening space. The study also noted that participants with greater heart rate variability reported feeling less anxious during the experience, suggesting that factors improving heart health may help mitigate the effects of sleep loss.

Potential interventions

Experts suggest that addressing sleep issues can help manage anxiety, as the two conditions often exacerbate one another. Potential interventions include cognitive behavioural therapy, moderate-to-vigorous exercise to improve heart rate variability, and the use of naps or scheduled recovery sleep for those who cannot avoid sleep deprivation, such as shift workers.