How Does Losing Sleep Affect Us?

Deanna Marie
May 3, 2022
2 min read

When you're stressed, do you lose sleep? How do you feel when you lose sleep? Does lacking sleep make you feel more stressed? Let's take a look at how lack of sleep affects our stress levels.

What are some of the negative side effects of sleep deprivation?

Increased cortisol levels (the stress hormone)
Increased moodiness & irritability
Increased hunger for calorie dense foods
Increased depression
Decreased memory & cognitive function

"Adults who sleep fewer than eight hours a night are more likely to report symptoms of stress in the past month, such as feeling irritable or angry, than adults who sleep more than eight hours a night (45 percent vs. 32 percent of adults); feeling overwhelmed (40 percent vs. 27 percent); lacking interest, motivation or energy (42 percent vs. 30 percent); losing patience or yelling at their children (52 percent vs. 27 percent); losing patience or yelling at their spouse or partner (50 percent vs. 36 percent); and skipping exercise (41 percent vs. 33 percent). They are also more likely to say their stress has increased in the past year (40 percent vs. 25 percent)." (APA, 2013).

When I lose out on sleep, it affects me in a negative way. Some examples of the negative side effects I experience from losing sleep include feeling more stress, feeling tired, unmotivated, moody, and hungrier. Can you can relate to any of these negative side effects in some way or another? If you answered yes, I would love to give you some tips about how to cope with that stress!

What are some of the ways to cope with sleep deprivation?