Recently, it has been found that if people are not getting enough sleep it can increase their risk for depression. In addition, it is known that some depressed people sleep for abnormal lengths of time, while others just can't get enough sleep.Here's a detailed explanation on how sleep disorders, particularly sleep apnea and depression are linked.
Sleep Apnea and Other Sleep Disorders causing Depression
Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder and it can cause severe disturbances to your sleep at night.
People with it can have great difficulty in getting enough sleep at night, only to feel out of sorts the next day. This can lead to people gasping for breath in the middle of the night and then not being able to fall back to sleep.
This can also cause you to lose interest in daily activities, have a feeling of hopelessness, feel added anxiety and can eventually lead to depression.
In fact, when sleep apnea is diagnosed, it can increase a woman's risk of depression fivefold. Research shows that this condition is under diagnosed according to sleep specialist, Carl Boethel, M.D.
This disorder is caused by many things including obesity, oversized tonsils, the structure of an individual's airway and more. These things will have to be treated as well to relieve sleep apnea.
There are other sleep disorders too that can cause depression. Insomnia and narcolepsy can also contribute to a person becoming depressed. A person's disorder needs to be fully analyzed to pinpoint which one it actually is, because some of them have similar symptoms.
Interesting Facts About Depression
- About 20 million people in the United States suffer.
- This disorder can affect everything in your life and everyone including children!
- A poll taken in 2006 by NSF (National Sleep Foundation) found that children in the age range of 11 to 17, who had sleep problems also had negative moods.
- Teens who said they were discontented had a high rate of not getting enough sleep.
- One type of depression has to do with the season of the year. Winter depression or SAD can occur when a person does not get enough sunlight. This can throw off the circadian rhythms that help to regulate the body's internal clock.
- Disruption in sleep patterns can cause depression, but depression can also cause sleep problems, so it can be a vicious cycle.
Typical Symptoms of Depression
- Tough to be attentive
- Feeling hopeless
- Forgetfulness
- Suicidal thoughts
- No interest in once fun activities
- Feeling sleepy during daytime
- Insomnia
- Less energy
- Appetite and/or weight changes
Combined Treatment for Depression and Sleep Disorders
If the depression is caused by a specific sleep disorder, this will have to be treated along with treating the depression.
A sleep specialist should be consulted for the best approach. Cognitive behavior therapy is one of the main therapies for depression along with anti-anxiety medications.
People should not ignore depression or sleep disorders, because these do not just go away without treatment or over a period of time.
Your thoughts?
Are you suffering from any particular sleep disorder? Have you noticed any significant changes in your lifestyle? Let me know in the comments section below!
About the Author
Oktay Ozadam writes about numerous health issues. If you would like to know more about the link between sleep and depression, or taking natural supplements for depression and anxiety or about nutritional supplements this is the place to go.
Who's Managing This?
Hi, I'm Aditya Samitinjay. I started this blog to help people not repeat the same mistakes that I've done. My writings are mostly based on Mental Health, Lifestyle, Self Improvement and Healthy Living. You can read the entire thing in the about page. You can also follow me here:
Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Pinterest | Stumbleupon | Linkedin
