Let’s get a little serious in this blog post. Millions of people around the world suffer from depression, numbers that have increased during and after the pandemic. What does this have to do with sleep? Sleep is closely linked to depression, to the point that doctors often hesitate to diagnose a person with depression if there has been no change in their sleep patterns.
Our goal in this post is to help those who may be struggling now and also for those who are curious about the effects of depression on sleep.
The Connection Between Depression And Sleep
Depression and sleep are victims of the chicken and egg scenario. An individual who is suffering from depression may have their sleep affected. It’s also just as likely that since they developed a poor sleep pattern, they became depressed.
Many who seek professional help from Greatest Moments, get well soon, whether they seek sleep disorder counseling, we both treat them. That’s why it’s so important to monitor your sleep and note any major changes when they occur.
And by “poor sleep patterns” we mean feeling tired after sleeping all night, insomnia, and not being able to fall asleep quickly. Poor sleep is a catalyst for mood swings, inability to concentrate, and fatigue, which are common symptoms experienced by people with depression. People often equate insomnia and lack of sleep with depression, but hypersomnia is also a common symptom where individuals sleep excessively.
How To Deal With Depression
Depending on the duration of your depression, you may need to see your doctor to find out the severity of the situation. Depression is serious and may require counseling or medication to effectively treat the condition. If you think you have a mild case of depression that hasn’t persisted for a long time but is affecting your sleep, we have some tips for you.
Keep in mind that they are not guaranteed to help you, but in general, they are good tactics to improve your quality. of sleep.
1.- Exercise
If you’re not currently doing any type of exercise, try to implement at least 10 minutes of light training into your schedule. Go for a walk outside during your lunch break or in the morning before you start work. You may be surprised to find that you feel much better just by being outdoors and being more active than usual.
Many experts routinely recommend exercise as a natural antidepressant. Your body also needs to be tired before going to bed, and if you’ve been sitting all day, you may not be ready to sleep at your usual time.
2.- Avoid Caffeine and Nicotine
Both substances will keep you alert and can disrupt your sleep pattern. It can be especially difficult to avoid them when you wake up feeling tired or if you haven’t slept well the night before. Do your best to get through the day without any of them and chances are you’ll sleep much better the next night.
Keep in mind that it can take up to 5 hours or more for caffeine to completely leave your body. If you decide you should have a coffee or a cigarette, do it in the morning and stop consuming nicotine or caffeine after lunch.
3.- Stick to your Sleep Schedule
It can be difficult to go to bed at the same time every night, especially when you are sleep-deprived, but you must commit to doing so. Going to bed too early can cause you to wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to go back to sleep. Going to bed too late will not allow you to get enough rest before your wake-up time.
Our body has a built-in sleep clock known as the circadian rhythm, so it knows when to go to bed. Altering the schedule will lead to poorer quality of sleep and that is not what we want. Set an alarm if you need to about 30 minutes before going to bed. This will give you enough time to finish whatever you’re doing and get ready for bed.
We hope that this post has been able to enlighten some of you who are fighting depression or are interested in the world of rest. Remember to take care of yourself and seek the help from Greatest Moments you need when you go through difficult times. We can all be kinder to ourselves and talk to others when we feel overwhelmed.
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