Everyone knows that a bad night’s sleep can make you feel irritable and sluggish. But poor sleep, especially if you have sleep apnea, can have more serious effects on your mental health.

People with sleep apnea have a high risk of developing mental health conditions, including depression. Research estimates that 35 percent of people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) experience depressive symptoms and 32 percent experience anxiety.

Learn more about how poor sleep may affect your mental health if you’re living with sleep apnea and how you can manage these symptoms.

How Is Sleep Apnea Connected to Depression?

Research suggests that people living with sleep apnea are much more likely to experience mental health challenges, including depression and anxiety, compared to people without sleep apnea. This research shows a strong link, but it doesn’t prove that sleep apnea directly causes these conditions.

There are a few possible reasons sleep apnea may be linked to depression.

Effects on Brain Function

In people with sleep apnea, poor sleep quality isn’t just an occasional problem. It often occurs night after night. Sleep apnea causes breathing to be interrupted during sleep.

When breathing stops, the lack of oxygen triggers a reflex that briefly wakes you up, disrupting sleep many times throughout the night.

People with sleep apnea often wake up so briefly that they may not remember these awakenings, even though their sleep is disrupted and not restful.

Not getting enough quality sleep can make it difficult to regulate emotions (manage feelings and reactions). This can increase the risk of developing depression.

Decreased Oxygen

Although studies are limited, there’s evidence that — along with sleep disruption — lower oxygen levels in people with sleep apnea may raise the risk of depression.

When breathing stops during sleep apnea, the body is deprived of oxygen, which can affect how cells function. The tissues in your body need oxygen to stay healthy.

Low oxygen levels in untreated sleep apnea can affect your physical health and increase the risk of:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Cardiovascular disease — Conditions related to the heart and blood vessels
• Metabolic syndrome — A group of health conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes

Lower oxygen levels have also been linked to changes in the brain that damage the brain’s white matter (the part of the brain that helps different areas communicate). Studies have shown that changes in the brain’s white matter may increase the risk of depression.

Hormonal Changes

Sleep issues can raise your levels of cortisol, sometimes called the “stress hormone.”

Cortisol has a number of functions, including regulating how you react to stress. It also helps regulate your circadian rhythm (your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle). These effects can influence your mood.

Additionally, elevated levels of cortisol have been linked to depression. Research has shown that around 50 percent of people who’ve been newly diagnosed with depression have higher cortisol levels.

Daytime Sleepiness

Disrupted or restless sleep in untreated sleep apnea can lead to persistent daytime sleepiness. Daytime sleepiness can affect work, relationships, and the ability to carry out ordinary daily activities — all of which can affect quality of life.

A 2025 study showed that excessive daytime sleepiness in people with sleep apnea is strongly associated with depression.

When To Seek Treatment

If you think sleep apnea is affecting your mental health, talk with your doctor or a healthcare provider.

Symptoms of depression include:

• Persistent feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or hopelessness
• Changes in weight or appetite
• Ongoing sadness, low mood, or low energy
• Problems with concentration or memory
• Irritability
• Loss of pleasure or interest in activities you usually enjoy
• Social withdrawal

Your doctor can refer you to a mental health specialist for an evaluation (a check to better understand your symptoms and needs) to help ensure you get appropriate treatment.

Treating sleep apnea is also an important part of supporting both your physical and mental health.

Challenges of Treating Depression With Sleep Apnea

Treating depression or other mental health conditions can be challenging for people living with sleep apnea.

Sleep and Mental Health Can Affect Each Other

Sleep problems and mental health conditions can be closely connected. While sleep apnea may lead to mental health issues such as depression, mental health conditions can also increase the risk of sleep problems. Some research has indicated that people with depression have a higher risk of developing sleep apnea.

A cycle can develop where a sleep disorder worsens mental health symptoms, and mental health problems further disrupt sleep. People with depression who don’t realize they have sleep apnea may seek mental health treatment that doesn’t address their sleep apnea.

Research suggests that many health practitioners may have limited training in sleep disorders like sleep apnea. Without seeing a sleep specialist and having a sleep test (a study that measures breathing and sleep patterns), it can be hard to determine if a sleep disorder is contributing to a mental health condition.

Certain Medications Can Cause Issues

In some cases, medications used in the treatment of mental health or psychiatric disorders may increase the risk of developing sleep apnea or make symptoms worse.

For instance, some psychiatric medications can cause weight gain, which is a known risk factor for sleep apnea.

Because sleep apnea and mental health problems are closely connected, medical researchers stress the need to look for both conditions. This means people with sleep apnea may need a mental health evaluation, and people with mental health symptoms may need to be evaluated for sleep disorders such as sleep apnea.

Managing Depression With Sleep Apnea

You can take steps to manage your mental health while living with sleep apnea. Start by talking to your doctor or healthcare provider.

If you have a treatment plan for your sleep apnea, such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy (a machine that helps keep your airway open during sleep), it’s important to stick with it.

Don’t change your treatment plan without medical advice. Treatment of sleep apnea with CPAP therapy has been shown to improve symptoms of depression and anxiety in some people.

If you’re experiencing mental health concerns, such as depression, talk to your doctor about a referral to a mental health professional. They can discuss treatment options, such as medication and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT, a type of talk therapy that helps change thought and behavior patterns).

You can also help manage both your sleep and mental health with self-care, such as:

• Limiting alcohol
• Skipping caffeine in the afternoon and evening
• Turning off electronic screens before bedtime
• Keeping a regular sleep schedule, such as going to bed and waking up around the same time each day
• Practicing relaxation techniques such as mindfulness (focusing on the present moment), meditation, and yoga
• Getting regular physical activity
• Staying connected with supportive people, such as family and friends

Join the Conversation

On MySleepApneaTeam, people share their experiences with sleep apnea, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

Have you experienced mental health issues with your sleep apnea? Let others know in the comments below.