We’ve all heard it before—feeling tired is just part of life, right? Maybe you’re a parent of young kids, you’re working long hours, or you’ve dealt with depression or anxiety. Fatigue just comes with the territory. But what if it doesn’t have to? What if the exhaustion you’ve been chalking up to stress, mental health, or just bad luck is actually a sign of an underlying sleep disorder?
A lot of people gaslight themselves into believing their struggles with sleep and daytime energy are a personal failing—a lack of willpower, motivation, or just not trying hard enough. But in reality, there are real, diagnosable sleep disorders that can cause these symptoms. And the good news? They’re treatable.
Signs You Might Have a Sleep Disorder (and Not Just Fatigue)
Let’s talk about some real-life examples of people who thought their exhaustion was normal—until they got assessed and discovered something more.
The New Mom Who Thought She Just Needed to Tough It Out
One of my clients, a mom of an infant, assumed her extreme fatigue was just part of motherhood. And to some extent, she wasn’t wrong—parenting a baby is exhausting. But her exhaustion wasn’t just about sleepless nights. It was a kind of bone-deep fatigue that made it nearly impossible to get anything done.
Here’s the kicker: she realized she had felt this way for as long as she could remember. Yet every doctor she had ever seen dismissed her concerns—blaming her thyroid, her depression, her lifestyle. She started to believe it was a character flaw, something she just had to push through.
After a lot of encouragement, she finally saw a sleep specialist and got a sleep study. The result? Idiopathic hypersomnia. It wasn’t a lack of willpower—it was a neurological disorder affecting her ability to stay awake. With the right treatment, she felt like a new person. Suddenly, she had energy. She could complete daily tasks without feeling like she was dragging herself through quicksand. She couldn’t believe this was how most people felt every day.
The Person Misdiagnosed with Depression—Who Really Had Sleep Apnea
Another example: a man in his 40s came to therapy thinking he was depressed. He had trouble with memory and focus, had no energy for his partner, and could barely stay awake at work. It made sense to assume depression—he had all the classic symptoms.
But here’s what his doctor missed: he could fall asleep anywhere, anytime. And despite getting 7-8 hours of sleep every night, he woke up exhausted and felt like he could easily fall asleep anywhere given the opportunity.
After pushing for a sleep study, he was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). He was stopping breathing 20-30 times per hour, preventing his brain from getting enough oxygen and keeping him from reaching deep, restorative sleep. Once he started using a CPAP machine, everything changed. He woke up feeling refreshed. He had the energy to stay up late and enjoy time with his partner. His mood improved because he was finally getting real sleep.
How Poor Sleep Disrupts Mood and Emotional Regulation
When your body doesn’t complete full sleep cycles, it has major consequences beyond just feeling tired. Sleep is essential for emotional regulation, and without it, your brain struggles to manage stress, mood, and anxiety.
- Increased Anxiety – Poor sleep affects the amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for detecting threats. When you’re sleep-deprived, this area becomes more reactive, making you feel more anxious and on edge.
- Lower Stress Tolerance – Lack of deep sleep reduces your ability to regulate emotions, meaning minor inconveniences can feel overwhelming.
- Depression Symptoms – Chronic sleep deprivation disrupts serotonin and dopamine production, two neurotransmitters critical for mood stability. Many people diagnosed with depression actually have undiagnosed sleep disorders.
- Brain Fog & Irritability – Without adequate REM sleep, the prefrontal cortex (responsible for logical thinking and impulse control) struggles to function properly, leading to mood swings and difficulty concentrating.
7 Sleep Disorders That Could Be Behind Your Exhaustion
There are many different sleep disorders that can impact your health, energy, and mental clarity. Here are a few of the most common:
1. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
- Your airway gets blocked during sleep, causing you to stop breathing multiple times per hour.
- Symptoms: Loud snoring (*Not everyone with OSA will have snoring!) , gasping or choking at night, morning headaches, excessive daytime sleepiness, brain fog, irritability. Insomnia can develop as well.
- Treatment: CPAP machine, dental devices, lifestyle changes, surgery in some cases.
2. Narcolepsy
- A neurological disorder that affects the brain’s ability to regulate sleep-wake cycles.
- Symptoms: Excessive daytime sleepiness, sudden muscle weakness (cataplexy), sleep paralysis, hallucinations when falling asleep or waking up.
- Treatment: Stimulant medications, lifestyle changes, scheduled naps.
3. Idiopathic Hypersomnia
- Chronic excessive sleepiness with no known cause.
- Symptoms: Unrefreshing sleep, difficulty waking up (even after 9+ hours of sleep), brain fog, feeling groggy for hours after waking up.
- Treatment: Stimulant medications, wake-promoting agents, sleep hygiene improvements.
4. Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)
- An uncontrollable urge to move your legs, often worsening at night.
- Symptoms: Tingling, itching, or “creepy-crawly” sensations in the legs, difficulty falling or staying asleep.
- Treatment: Lifestyle changes, iron supplements (if deficient), medications.
The Health Risks of Untreated Sleep Disorders
Chronic untreated sleep disorders, especially conditions like sleep apnea, can lead to serious long-term health issues, including:
- Cardiovascular Disease – Increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.
- Diabetes – Poor sleep affects insulin regulation, increasing diabetes risk.
- Cognitive Decline – Memory and concentration issues, increased dementia risk.
- Mood Disorders – Higher rates of depression and anxiety.
- Weight Gain & Metabolic Issues – Poor sleep disrupts hunger hormones, leading to weight gain.
How to Get Assessed for a Sleep Disorder
If you’re reading this and thinking, Wait, could this be me?, here’s what you need to know:
- Consult a Sleep Medicine Doctor or Neurologist – A specialist will assess your sleep habits, symptoms, and medical history.
- Try a Home Sleep Study – For conditions like sleep apnea, a home study may be a simple first step.
- Do an In-Lab Sleep Study – If needed, a polysomnography (PSG) can monitor sleep stages, breathing, and brain activity overnight.
The Bottom Line: If You’re Sleeping Enough but Still Exhausted, Get Checked Out
Here’s the thing: if you’re consistently getting 7+ hours of sleep and still struggling with fatigue, that’s not normal. You don’t have to just accept it, and it’s not a personal failing. Sleep disorders are medical conditions, and they are treatable.
Think you might have a sleep disorder? Schedule a consultation with our sleep specialists today or take our free sleep assessment quiz. Getting the right diagnosis could change your life.
Kathryn Tipton, MA, LPC, PMH-C, is a licensed therapist and sleep specialist based in Houston, TX. She has extensive experience helping clients overcome insomnia and other sleep challenges using evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). Kathryn is passionate about helping people reclaim their nights, improve their sleep, and wake up feeling energized and ready to engage fully in their lives.