Insomnia is a condition that is estimated to affect anywhere between 10% to 60% of the world’s population. It negatively impacts a person’s ability to fall and stay asleep and may lead to daytime fatigue. Many cases of insomnia are related to mental health conditions, like depression. In fact, there is a distinct relationship between depression and insomnia.
Have you been struggling to get a good night’s sleep? Do you think it may be rooted in your depression? Here’s what you need to know about the relationship between the two conditions and treatments that may help.
How can depression affect a person’s sleep?
There are several reasons why depression may negatively impact someone’s sleep. Some of the top reasons include:
- Causing difficulty falling asleep — One of the reasons that depression can affect sleep habits is because it can make it difficult for a person to fall asleep in the first place. Someone with depression may experience such overwhelming feelings of sadness and worthlessness that it prevents them from falling asleep.
- Causing restless sleep — Another reason that depression can affect a person’s quality of sleep is because it may lead a person to become restless while sleeping. They may have difficulty falling into a deep sleep or may wake up several times during the night. Some people even wake up and experience trouble getting back to sleep.
- Causing daytime fatigue — Poor sleep during the night because of depression can lead to fatigue or lethargy during the day. Persistent sleepiness during the day can negatively impact the quality of life and a person’s ability to efficiently perform daily tasks.
- Causing discomfort or pain during the night — Another reason that depression can affect sleep is because it can lead to physical discomfort and even pain during the night. Someone with depression might experience chronic aches and pains in their body that make getting a full night’s sleep difficult.
How can you get better sleep as someone who deals with depression and insomnia?
There are several ways that someone with depression and insomnia can experience improvements in their symptoms. Some of these include:
- Psychotherapy — Psychotherapy is one of the treatments that may help if you’re experiencing insomnia as a result of your depression. Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is a form of mental health treatment that involves one-on-one sessions with a licensed clinical therapist. These sessions may provide relief from your depression symptoms, and your sleep may benefit as a result.
- Antidepressants — Oral antidepressants are another treatment that can be used to help those struggling with insomnia from depression. For many, they may relieve the symptoms that contribute to poor sleep.
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy — TMS therapy may also improve treatment-resistant depression. TMS delivers pulses of magnetic energy to specific areas in the brain that are involved in mood regulation. By treating the symptoms of depression, your insomnia will likely improve too.
- Esketamine therapy — Esketamine (Spravato) therapy can also be used to bring relief to those with treatment-resistant depression. It’s a self-administered nasal spray used in conjunction with oral antidepressants. Spravato is known to reduce many of the symptoms of depression, including symptoms that contribute to poor quality of sleep.
Active Path Mental Health can treat your depression so that your sleep may improve
We understand how significant of an impact depression and insomnia can have on your life. A lack of proper sleep can quickly steer your life out of control and leave you with feelings of hopelessness. Both depression and insomnia are known to affect your ability to function daily, your interpersonal relationships and your quality of life. With Active Path Mental Health, you’ll get the treatment you need to manage your depression symptoms and ultimately start getting improved sleep. Let us be the ones to help you.
Active Path Mental Health is proud to say that patients can receive treatment from multiple locations. We provide care in both Oregon and Washington. The team members at each of our locations are dedicated to helping patients with their mental health conditions. If depression is affecting your quality of sleep, we may be able to help. But don’t just take it from us, take it from our patient reviews.
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
