Dr. Monique Thompson, Mental Health and Infidelity Expert

Chronic sleep deprivation can cause lasting brain changes that worsen mental illness. 

 Long-term poor sleep alters the brain’s amygdala–prefrontal cortex connection, making it harder to regulate emotions and increasing reactivity to stress. Over time, this can contribute to the onset or worsening of depression, anxiety, and PTSD—creating a vicious cycle where mental illness further disrupts sleep, and poor sleep deepens the illness.