Seven out of ten adults in the United States say they experience stress or anxiety daily, and most say it interferes at least moderately with their lives. About one-third report persistent stress or excessive anxiety daily or that they have had an anxiety or panic attack. Seven out of ten of those adults say they have trouble sleeping.

Stress often affects sleep, and sleep problems can add to a person’s stress. But sleep may also become a coping mechanism for stress or anxiety.

These are among the findings of the 2007 Stress & Anxiety Disorders Study, a report examining the effects of anxiety disorders and everyday stress and anxiety on sleep.

Although relatively few U.S. adults have actually been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, the survey shows a significant increase in such a diagnosis in 2007 (14 percent), compared to results of a similar survey in 2005 (7 percent).

Stress and anxiety are a normal part of life, but anxiety disorders, which affect 40 million adults, are the most common psychiatric illnesses in the U.S.—and they are on the increase. Read on for more key findings of the study.

General Stress or Anxiety Interferes With Lives
Adults most likely to report daily stress or anxiety are under age 55, especially between the ages of 18 and 24 (91 percent), and those who have children (81 percent) and who are employed (73 percent).

Of those who experience stress or anxiety, 48 percent say it interferes with their activities every day (up from 39 percent in 2005), and women are much more affected than men (56 percent vs. 39 percent). Nearly 72 percent say it interferes at least moderately with their lives, which is up from 67 percent in 2005.

Stress interferes in a variety of areas on a daily basis:

• relationships with family and friends (85 percent)

• sleep (76 percent)

• leisure activities (50 percent)

• performance at work (44 percent)

• relationships with peers (38 percent)

• quality of work (36 percent)

• performance at school (12 percent)

Physical Effects of Stress or Anxiety
Those who experience daily stress or anxiety are significantly more likely to physical ailments, especially in relation to poor sleep:

• sleep problems (68 percent): waking during the night and difficulty falling asleep again (48 percent) and waking after too little sleep (45 percent)

• headaches (58 percent)

• upset stomach or nausea (49 percent)

• pounding heartbeat (40 percent)

• back pain (35 percent)

• dizziness or faintness (34 percent)

Nearly three-quarters of women with daily stress or anxiety are more likely to experience sleep-related physical problems, including headaches (66 percent), upset stomach or nausea (55 percent), diarrhea (32 percent), trembling or shaking (27 percent), and hot or cold flashes (29 percent).

Easing Stress or Anxiety
Sleeping and exercising are top among a wide range of stress-relieving activities, but men and women show some differences.

Stress and Sleep Problems

• The majority of adults with a stress-induced sleep problem experience it at least weekly, and more than half experience it at least several times a week.

• Three-fourths of adults whose sleep is affected by stress or anxiety say that their sleep problems have also increased their stress and anxiety: 54 percent say that stress or anxiety increased their anxiety about falling asleep at night, and 52 percent of men and 42 percent of women reported it affected their ability to remain focused the next day.

• In addition, 57 percent of women and 49 percent of men report that anxiety-induced sleep problems affect their relationships. Of those adults experiencing such sleep difficulties, only half consulted a professional (54 percent women vs. 46 percent men).

Persistent Stress or Excessive Anxiety Impairs Daily Functioning
More than one-fourth of adults reported that persistent stress or excessive anxiety has impaired their ability to function in the past six months, a figure that’s jumped 7 percent since a similar survey in 2005. Eight out of ten say those feelings last several days or more.

About three-quarters say they have difficulty sleeping and they avoid people. Close to half said they overeat and refuse to leave home; one-third have avoided work, and about one-quarter have avoided driving. Women are more likely than men to shop compulsively (34 percent vs. 15 percent); to overeat (54 percent vs. 40 percent); or to stop eating (33 percent vs. 21 percent). Men are more likely than women to abuse alcohol or drugs (28 percent vs. 24 percent).

Anxiety Disorders Affect Sleep
Nearly one-third of adults in the study feel their anxiety is irrational, persistent, or excessive, up from 22 percent in 2005, primarily women and those ages 18 to 24 who are not employed.
Respondents report a wide range of behaviors due to their anxiety:

• sleep less (45 percent)

• sleep more (36 percent)

• avoid social activities (71 percent; up from 62 percent in 2005)

• become short-tempered (70 percent)

• have trouble concentrating (66 percent)

• avoid going places with others (62 percent)

• More than half report they get physical ailments, don’t answer the phone or return calls, avoid communicating with others, don’t feel they’re productive, and cry.

• Men are more likely than women to engage in sex and seek repeated or excessive medical attention.

Six of ten adults say they know the difference between everyday anxiety and an anxiety disorder (down from 67 percent in 2005), and 57 percent identified difficulty sleeping as a symptom of an anxiety disorder.

• The percentage of people who have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder has doubled: 14 percent vs. 7 percent total in 2005.

• More adults are under treatment for anxiety disorders; 8 percent in 2007, up from 5 percent in 2005.

Sleep Habits of Adults
Sixty-one percent of adults report getting seven hours of sleep at least four nights a week, which is down from the 67 percent reported in 2005. Among other findings:

• On average, adults sleep 6.6 hours each night.

• Eight out of ten adults have experienced some type of sleep-related difficulty; women are significantly more likely than men to experience problems, particularly not feeling rested after sleep; having trouble falling asleep; and trouble staying asleep.

• About half wake up feeling unrefreshed or not rested: 61 percent women, 45 percent men.

• Nearly half have trouble falling asleep: 57 percent women, 38 percent men.

• About four in ten have trouble staying asleep: 50 percent women, 38 percent men.

Sleep problems affect adults during the daytime, primarily sleepiness, fatigue, and irritability. They other issues, too, including poor concentration, headaches, and memory difficulties.

Most adults have not missed work or school because of sleep-related problems, but the average number of days missed is 4.9 in a year. But people who have sought professional help for persistent stress or excessive anxiety have missed significantly more days: 12 percent have missed more than 8 days, and 8 percent report missing 4 to 7 days in a year.

Two-thirds of adults who missed work due to sleep-related difficulties have not told their employer the real reason they missed work. Only 10 percent who experience sleep problems are currently under treatment for a sleep disorder. But nearly one-fourth of those who seek help for persistent stress or excessive anxiety are also more likely to seek help for a sleep disorder.