Does Lack of Sleep Cause Mental Illness?
Severe sleep deprivation can cause many mental health issues. People who stay awake for days at a time show symptoms of psychosis, including hallucinations and disordered thinking. But these situations arent typical. Some people have a combination of mental health and sleep concerns. Many people with mental illnesses such as depression report problems falling asleep or staying asleep. But doctors can't always tell if a lack of sleep led to mental illness or the other way around. Some experts think that long-term (or chronic) sleep problems raise the risk for certain mental illnesses. At the same time, some mental conditions can cause problems with sleep. Treating sleep problems may ease mental health symptoms. Or you may start sleeping better when you address your mental health.