Sleep may be one of the most overlooked parts of mental health
- Gyeonghyun Cho
- Mar 23
- 2 min read
Mar 23, 2026
Gyeonghyun Cho
A growing number of experts say the connection between sleep and mental wellbeing is not simple. It works both ways. Poor sleep can make mental health worse, and mental health struggles can make it harder to sleep.
Dr. Lauren Waterman, a psychiatrist who focuses on insomnia, says it is important to understand the difference between sleep deprivation and insomnia. Sleep deprivation usually happens because of outside factors, like a busy schedule or not giving yourself enough time to rest. Insomnia is different. It comes from what is happening inside the mind, such as stress, anxiety, or racing thoughts that make it hard to fall asleep even when you are tired. Both can affect daily life, but they do not come from the same cause.
Research shows that when people do not sleep well, they often become more emotionally sensitive. They may feel more anxious, more irritable, and less able to focus. On the other hand, mental health conditions like depression and anxiety can also disturb sleep. Some people with depression struggle to get enough rest, while others sleep much more than usual.Experts also point out that waking up during the night is actually normal. The bigger problem often starts when people panic about not falling back asleep. That stress can make the body more alert and turn a normal wake-up into a longer period of sleeplessness.
Simple habits can make a real difference. Waking up at the same time every day, avoiding too much time lying awake in bed, and training the brain to connect the bed with sleep instead of stress can all help improve sleep quality. While supplements like melatonin are popular, they do not work the same way for everyone. In many cases, daily routines and behavior changes matter more.
In the end, sleep is not the only factor in mental health, but it may be a key piece that many people ignore. Building better sleep habits can support a healthier mind and improve overall well-being.
