A lot of people still can’t figure out how a sleep disorder and depression meet the necessary standards to be categorized as part of the mental health spectrum. Yes, depression is part of the mental health category, but why can’t we see a sleeping disorder as an issue as well? Sometimes, we think that being unable to fall asleep has to do with over-sleeping the day before, an overworking schedule, among other things, and yes, they do have something to do with sleep deprivation but there’s so much more to that. Please stick around for more information and to obtain some of my opinions and personal struggles with a sleep disorder and depression.
A sleep disorder and depression go hand by hand and I’m going to tell you why.
What Is a Sleep Disorder?
In simple terms, a sleep disorder is when you have trouble either falling asleep, waking up endless times during the night, or simply sleeping too much. Does this sound like something that is currently affecting your life on a daily basis?
I am not a psychologist nor a professional mental health specialist, but if your answer is “yes”, then maybe you need to dig deeper into this topic and bring it up on your next visit to your doctor.
Sleep Disorder And Depression = Mental Health
Depression is one of the worlds most diagnosed conditions that could have a million other complications along the way. People often auto-diagnose themselves with depression based on how they’re feeling, but is this okay? Does it actually fit the standards for a concrete diagnosis? Without the proper education and help of a therapist we can’t decide for our own selves whether we have a mental health condition, or if we don’t.
Depression has a lot of signs that you should be aware of and also analyzing the patterns to see if you actually match any of the described symptoms that you may have researched. If you do, then you must consider getting professional help to determinate what is fitting for your official diagnosis.
Now, how does depression and your sleeping habits fit together? Well, it’s very simple. If you’re the type of person that over-sleeps, sleeps to avoid dealing with certain things or with life in general, there’s a possibility that you might be depressed. Notice the “might be” rather than a “you are depressed”. This is indeed, one of the many signs of depression, but again, for a concrete diagnosis you will need professional help.
Not sleeping at all during the night due to:
• Overthinking
• Nightmares
• Fear (yes, there are people who have fear of sleeping, and that’s because they’re afraid that a specific thing/traumatic event that has been haunting them throughout the years will appear in their dreams). Scary right?
There are so many things that can prevent you from having a normal 6-8 hour sleep pattern. The conveniences of this may lead to isolation due to not having energy, nor the physical strength to do anything all day. Isolation and a lack of energy to do every day things can be a big red flag over how your mental state is managing all of your efficiency.
On the other hand, people who are already diagnosed with insomnia can have a higher tendency to develop depression.
People with depression also tend to have some type of anxiety disorder which can also be a big factor regarding your sleeping routine.
Getting Professional Help
Is it a good idea to get professional help just because of a sleep disorder? Let me tell you a bit about my experience.
I am a very skeptical person and the idea of going to see someone and them diagnosing me with a certain condition due to what my mindset is developing, that was such a scare for me. Not to mention, I never liked the idea of medication. It took me so much researching and asking other people what were their thoughts on the subject, to finally come to a conclusion of whether I actually needed this treatment. You don’t need validation from anyone regarding how you’re feeling, but having a small scoop of what people you trust think about this big step can be benefiting to your development.
After some thinking and even more research, I decided to give it a try. So, that’s what I did, I was diagnosed with severe depression and insomnia. I started taking the prescribed medication and they didn’t work, so due to that, I canceled all of my upcoming appointments. It wasn’t until the beginning of 2019 that I went back because I couldn’t deal with what was happening in my life, and I was also afraid I was going to somehow fail having control over my mind.
It turns out, I only needed a higher dose of the medication I was taking beforehand when I first started my treatment. I don’t regret it, and if you’re like me, just know that there is something for you out there; you just need to take your time to evaluate your surroundings and how you’re truly feeling. It’s not going to be an actual remedy to all of your conditions, but along the way, you will see the impact.
Improvement
There’s nothing that comes out the easy way. If we want something we must work hard for it to actually have noticeable results. Just like everything in life, your health in general, is something that you should really have a better and closer look at. Being a child or even a teenager, I’m sure a lot of us were scared of going to the doctor, or reaching out if you ever needed something. And you might still be on that point, but if theres something I’ve learned along the way of all my healing journey is that it is never too late to give yourself a try. Even if you’re scared, nervous, skeptical or whatever it is that’s keeping you from taking the next step, please go beyond your boundaries. I’ve been through so much in my life and I know that if I would’ve reached out, said something or looked closely, I would not be having some problems that I have to this day.
It’s hard to look yourself in the mirror and not see the person you used to be before, or the person that you have desired to be for so many years. Don’t let anything, even if it’s something minimal, take over your entire life. If so, things would only get worse, believe me. It is never too late to give out a chance to something you know will make your life so much easier and even help you along your journey.
If you’re not sure about scheduling an appointment with your local therapist then do know that there are other options out there. Options that are affordable and would make your life so much easier.
You have the power to change your life. Take that step and do it. You will be so grateful when you start seeing the results. Take charge of any sleep disorder and depression episodes that you may be experiencing.
If you have any comments on this topic or would simply just like to add something, then please comment below.
You are absolutely right, we have the power to change our lives! Having the courage to take the first step is the hardest. A lack of sleep is rampant throughout the culture and may Asian cultures as well. Not sleeping is a contributing factor to a failure to connect with the rest of there world when you need to. By that I mean its very hard to connect with people at work and get your work done when you can think and you’re under stress. I know this first hand.
I peeked help early on and I’m on medication now and glad I pursued it early in my marriage. It was hard to admit that I didn’t have control over the problem on my own but when I finally mustered up the courage and seeked help it was like a very heavy weight was lifted of my shoulders. Partly because I began to realize there are so many other people who have the same problem. Sleep disorders is a real problem that needs intervention by a professional. The sooner the better in terms of having a decent quality of life.
Thanks for the article.
Acknowledging that you have a problem is the first step to a better life and recovery. Thank you so much for reading the article!
Hi! The first step for solving an issue is actually recognizing that one has that issue. The link between sleep disorders and depression is evident. So it’s good to take not of it on time.
In this world we’re living in, where so many things have to be done, we end up sleeping less than what we should. And then that can start causing us other issues. Thanks for this timely post.
Thank you for taking the time to read it!
Stephanie,
Thank you for the insightful article. I use to have insomnia, and it was mostly due to separation anxiety from an ex-girlfriend. I use to just lay on my bed and stare at the ceiling pondering in my thoughts, and it would keep me up all night. I agree that it is wise to seek help instead of holding it in and hoping that you’ll get better. I reached out to a psychotherapist, and his advice got me back on track, and now I get restful sleep. I still get some withdrawal symptoms from the separation anxiety, but I learned that the only thing I could do is work on myself and keep moving forward. Several things can trigger your sleep deprivation, but as you said, it is wise to reach out to professionals, and heck if you can’t afford professional help, your family and friends are there to help pick you up when you’re down.
I am so sorry that you had to go through that, but I am so glad that you acknowledged what was going on and decided to take a step in the right direction. Keep doing what you’re doing because you’re doing amazing!