What is the relationship between stress and sleep?

Stress can significantly disrupt sleep patterns due to the body's natural response to stressful situations. When an individual experiences stress, the body reacts by producing hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, which prepare the body for a 'fight or flight' response. This physiological reaction can lead to increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and heightened alertness, making it difficult to relax and fall asleep.

Moreover, stress often leads to ruminative thinking or anxiety that can persist when trying to sleep, preventing the mind from settling down. It can cause insomnia or reduced sleep quality, leading to fragmented sleep or difficulty in maintaining a restful state throughout the night. This disruption not only affects the amount of sleep but also its restorative quality, contributing to fatigue and decreased overall well-being.

In contrast, the other options suggest a positive or neutral relationship between stress and sleep, which does not align with the generally accepted understanding of how chronic stress can negatively impact sleep quality and patterns.