How to Cope with Sleep Disturbances during a Depressive Disorder

Many of us struggle to fall asleep and stay asleep. Sleep disturbances can be worse when you're struggling with a mental illness. Someone who has depression can attest to this- the more depressed you feel the harder it is to sleep. It is very frustrating to feel tired yet unable to sleep. Insomnia is the term often used to replace sleep disturbances.

Let us take a look at the link between Sleep Disturbances and Depression:

People with depression are more likely to suffer from sleep disturbances. Sleep disturbances can range from sleeping too much to sleeping too little. Both depression and sleep disturbances involve disruption of neurotransmitters in the brain and hormonal imbalances. Research is now encouraging providers to identify sleep disturbances in patients and to analyze whether it is a separate condition from their mental illness as opposed to adding it as a symptom of their current illness. It is said that people with sleep disturbances have a higher chance of developing depression by weakening their emotional resilience. According to a John Hopkins study, healthy men and women who have sleep disturbances have a 31% reduction in positive moods the following day.

Understanding the relationship between sleep disturbances and depression can help you to identify risks, and allow you to get the right help before it gets worse.

Here are some Health risks that persons may develop with Depression and Sleep Disturbances:

We know the struggles of not being able to sleep as well as trying to cope with our mental health. This can have a great impact on your physical health. Lack of sleep or sleep disorder increases your chances of developing heart disease, heart attacks, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, and even obesity. Whereas, depression can constrict blood vessels and this further increases your chances of developing heart disease. People with depression can also develop a default immune system, and unexplainable pain and aches.

Talk to your psychiatrist about your symptoms! It is very important to let your provider know about any sleep disturbances that you may be experiencing. Your physician will do a full work-up and assess whether you have any other underlying health issues that may be contributing to your current illness.

Struggling with depression and sleep disturbances can be very challenging. It is important for our patients to make us aware of their symptoms so we can effectively care for them.

We would be delighted to receive your referral for a patient or someone you know who will benefit from a psychiatric evaluation and treatment.

Kind regards,

Dr. Syeda Sultana, M.D., and Team

Our mental resilience is an evolving system — constantly adapting to our circumstances and how we make use of our abilities. We thank you for your interest in our articles. And thank you for providing positive feedback about Dr. Sultana's services! We are pleased to see you are taking an interest in mental health and helping all of us.

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