Sleep and Social Stress: A Two Way Street

 

There is a complex relationship between sleep and our social presence. Stress in social life may hinder sleep, and a lack of sleep could ruin one’s day. Poor sleep triggers viral loneliness and social rejection. UC Berkeley researchers have found that sleep-deprived people feel lonelier and less inclined to engage with others, avoiding close contact in much the same way as people with social anxiety. This dynamic proves to be a vicious cycle, as such social isolation could result in overthinking interactions with other people, thus having to endure sleepless nights - both issues perpetuate the other.


Any type of anxiety can disrupt a good night’s sleep, such as fear of interacting with either people, tendency to overthink, avoidance of social situations. Studies have confirmed that there is a definite link between social anxiety and poor sleep. For instance, one group of researchers looked at the social anxiety symptoms and sleep issues of 176 undergraduate students. They found that those with social anxiety were more likely to have poor sleep satisfaction, to be impaired during the day because of poor sleep, and to be distressed about difficulty sleeping. Social stress can impact sleep by increasing the activity of the body's stress response system, by releasing stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones can interfere with our sleep cycle, making it more difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. Furthermore, such mental burden could result in repetitive or intrusive thoughts about the issue causing stress, preventing us from getting the sleep we need.  


When people do not get enough sleep, the neurochemicals affected makes them less responsive to the outside world resulting in unsociability, hence also impacting how sensitive and understanding we are towards others, according to a study published in Current Biology. When people are sleep deprived, the emotional centres in the brain tend to overreact to negativity, making it challenging for them to have positive interaction with others. Sleep gives us the ability to pick up on emotional cues and how to socially respond to them.


Both issues aggravate the other, and it is imperative that we stop this cycle. Ways to regain autonomy over your own body and your mind are exercising, self care, following a routine to retain normalcy, and surrounding yourself with things that calm you and make you feel comfortable. Of course, social stress is a rampant issue and it is always wise to reach out to someone for help, may it be a friend, a trusted adult or a mental health professional. It is important that we take care of ourselves physically, and mentally, and sleep is crucial in doing so.  


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