Rest Assured? Why Young Adults Are Seeking Info on Sleep Disorders

For many young adults, bedtime has become another source of stress. They may lie awake replaying the day, worrying about tomorrow or watching the minutes disappear from the clock. Others sleep for what seems like a reasonable amount of time but awaken exhausted, unable to concentrate or dependent on caffeine to function.

Increasingly, they are turning to sleep specialists—and artificial intelligence (AI)—for answers about insomnia, fatigue and what is often described as “sleep anxiety.”

Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest younger adults are having particular difficulty falling asleep. In 2024, 18.3 percent of U.S. adults ages 18 to 34 reported trouble falling asleep most days or every day—the highest percentage of any adult age group. About 27 percent slept fewer than seven hours a night, and only 52.2 percent regularly awakened feeling well-rested.

“Having a good quality and good quantity of sleep is of paramount importance,” says Harneet Walia, M.D., chief, division of sleep medicine at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute and chief of clinical operations transformation for Baptist Health Medical Group. “It’s not a luxury, it’s a priority.”

Why Young Adults Are Struggling to Sleep

Several pressures can converge during young adulthood: demanding work or school schedules, financial worries, relationship concerns, family responsibilities and major life transitions. These stressors may keep the mind active long after the body is ready to rest.

Modern habits can compound the problem. Bright light from phones, tablets and computers signals the brain to remain alert, while social media, videos and late-night messages provide a steady stream of stimulation. Irregular sleep schedules—such as waking early during the week, then staying up late and sleeping until noon on weekends—also disrupt the circadian rhythm, the internal clock that regulates sleep and alertness.

“Irregular sleep and wake times, especially sleeping in late on weekends or taking long daytime naps, can throw off the body’s natural rhythm,” Dr. Walia says. “Small, steady changes often make the biggest difference.”

Anxiety creates another obstacle. After one difficult night, a person may worry about how tired they will feel the next day. By the following evening, they may already be anticipating another sleepless night.

“When people start to dread bedtime, the worry itself becomes a barrier to sleep,” Dr. Walia notes. “They lie awake watching the clock, which only increases their stress and makes rest harder to reach.”

Wearable devices and sleep-tracking apps can be useful, but repeatedly checking sleep scores may cause some people to become overly focused on achieving “perfect” sleep. That concern can make relaxing even more difficult.

Why People Are Asking AI About Sleep

Health has become one of the most common uses of generative AI. OpenAI reported in July 2026 that more than 300 million people worldwide use ChatGPT for health-related questions each week. Sleep is a natural topic for those searches.

A Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital study published in 2020 found that online search interest in insomnia had risen steadily over the previous decade, reaching more than 4.3 million queries per year in recent years and far outpacing searches for other sleep conditions. Searches peaked around 3 a.m.—when people unable to sleep are often looking for immediate answers.

AI may help users understand basic terminology, organize symptoms or prepare questions for an appointment. But as Dr. Walia points out, it cannot determine whether fatigue is caused by insomnia, insufficient sleep, sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, depression, anemia, thyroid disease, medication effects or another condition. It also cannot perform a physical examination, review a complete medical history or conduct a sleep study.

Insomnia Is Not the Only Possibility

Insomnia generally involves difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or awakening earlier than intended despite having enough opportunity to sleep. The problem also must affect daytime functioning.

Some young adults simply do not set aside enough time for sleep. Others may have a delayed sleep-wake rhythm that makes it naturally difficult to fall asleep early. Obstructive sleep apnea is another possibility. Although commonly associated with older adults or people who are overweight, it can also affect younger people and may require a sleep study for diagnosis.

“I would go to the root cause of the issue. Why are they not able to sleep?” Dr. Walia says.

Warning signs that deserve medical attention include loud snoring, gasping or choking during sleep, persistent morning headaches, overwhelming daytime sleepiness, difficulty driving safely or fatigue that interferes with work, school or relationships.

Practical Steps to Protect Your Sleep

A regular wake-up time, morning light exposure, daytime exercise and limiting caffeine after lunch can help stabilize the sleep-wake cycle. Dr. Walia recommends several practical habits:

·      Keep a consistent schedule. Go to bed and wake up at roughly the same time every day, including weekends.

·      Power down screens early. Reduce bright light and electronic use at least an hour before bed.

·      Avoid long daytime naps. Trying to “catch up” during the day can make nighttime sleep harder.

·      Create a calming routine. Reading, gentle stretching or deep breathing can help the mind settle.

When to Seek Help

Occasional restless nights are normal, and good sleep hygiene does not cure every sleep disorder. Dr. Walia advises seeing a sleep specialist when difficulty sleeping lasts more than two to three months and begins affecting daily life through fatigue, poor concentration or mood changes.

A specialist can identify whether the root cause is stress, an underlying medical condition or a sleep disorder and develop an individualized treatment plan. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, or CBT-I, is typically recommended as a first-line treatment for chronic insomnia.

“CBT-I has helped many patients improve their sleep by addressing the behaviors and thought patterns that perpetuate sleeplessness, including the fear of not sleeping,” Dr. Walia says.

She also cautions against automatically reaching for over-the-counter sleep products, which may cause grogginess, remain in the body longer than expected or distract from an underlying condition.

“It’s important to maintain good sleep hygiene,” she says. “But when sleep difficulties, poor daytime alertness and fatigue continue, you should seek medical attention.”

Click here for more information about sleep medicine services and specialists available at Baptist Health.