Understanding Depression and Sleep

Sleep disorders and depression play an important role in sleep. Links between sleep and depression show that inability to sleep could be one of the major signs of clinical depression. Lack of sleep over an extended period and oversleeping could offer an important clue that someone is suffering from depression.

Depression is a mood disorder where lingering and heightened feelings of sadness, hopelessness and worthlessness consume and increase emotions over a long period of time. The link between sleep and depression show that disrupted sleep and inadequate amounts of sleep increase tension and ability to control emotions because normal sleep serves as a recuperative state.

Sleep Problems and Depression

If you suffer from depression and lack of sleep, there are many sleep problems that feed depression. Lying in bed at night with thoughts consuming your mind will make it difficult for you to relax and fall asleep. Waking often during the night disrupts your sleep pattern and contributes to worsening your depression. Already in sleep debt? Waking early in the morning with thoughts keeping you from falling asleep all add to a host of problems that affect people who suffer from depression.

How Sleep Can Help With Your Depression

A good sleep routine increases the quality of your life and research suggests that people who get on average between 6-9 hours sleep each night are less likely to suffer from depression.

If you are having difficulty falling asleep, this could double your risk of depression. Sleep deprivation adversely affects brain and cognitive functions, sleeping more or less than the recommended hours can also have a negative impact on depression.

Sleep Tips to Help You Cope with Depression

Your sleep needs vary from that of your friends or family, most people need between 7-8 hours sleep to feel refreshed and balanced during the day. Combining sleep with suitable treatments, alternate therapies and lifestyle changes may help you cope and improve depression

Exercise often, early in the morning and include yoga and breathing techniques to help relieve anxiety and promote good sleep. Avoid exercising before bedtime.
Banish problems, worries and thoughts by writing down how you feel and include a list of activities to be completed the following day. Relax knowing you have addressed these thoughts and will deal with them in the morning.
Meditation before bed can increase relaxation allowing you to focus your thoughts.
Avoid caffeine, nicotine, alcohol and any other stimulating activities before bed.
Take a warm bath infused with essential oils or relaxing shower before bed to increase deep sleep.
Keep your bedroom at a comfortable temperature, make sure your room is dark and no external light sources are preventing you from having a good night’s sleep.
Avoid tossing and turning in bed, get up and read, do something relaxing such deep breathing until you feel relaxed and tired enough to fall asleep.

The link between sleep disorders and depression show sleep could help and support depression. Having a sleep disorder does not always cause depression but lack of sleep over an extended period plays an important role in the quality of your life and risk of promoting depression.

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