A lack of sleep, which is common in anxiety disorders, may play a key role in firing up brain regions that contribute to excessive worrying. Sleep deprivation amplifies anticipatory anxiety by activating the brain’s amygdala and insular cortex—regions associated with emotional processing. People who are naturally more anxious and therefore more likely to develop a full-blown anxiety disorder—are acutely vulnerable to the effect of insufficient sleep. “These findings help us realize that those people who are anxious by nature are the same people who will suffer the greatest harm from sleep deprivation,” says Matthew Walker, professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of California, Berkeley. The results suggest that people suffering from such maladies as generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks, and post-traumatic stress disorder, may benefit substantially from sleep therapy. “By restoring good quality sleep in people suffering from anxiety, we may be able to help ameliorate their excessive worry and disabling fearful expectations.” Sleep loss triggers excessive anticipatory brain activity associated with anxiety. thefiscaltimes/Articles/2013/06/28/How-A-Good-Nights-Sleep-Can-Wipe-Away-Your-Worries.aspx#page1
Posted on: Thu, 04 Jul 2013 13:37:10 +0000
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