Story at-a-glance
- Stress is one of the most powerful disruptors of sleep. However, recent research shows it also paradoxically triggers sleep instead of insomnia
- Acute stress sometimes activates brain circuits that promote non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep as recovery
- This stress-induced sleep is short-lived. With repeated stress, sleep becomes fragmented or suppressed, reflecting patterns seen in stress-related disorders
- Specific brain regions like the ventral tegmental area orchestrate stress-induced sleep by activating GABAergic neurons that promote sleep while suppressing stress hormones
- While stress may sometimes trigger sleep, true restorative rest is better achieved through consistent routines like daily exposure to morning sunlight, blocking blue light after sunset, and improving your sleep environment
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