Trillian's Depression Page

Insomnia

Insomnia, the most common sleep complaint, is the feeling of not having slept well or long enough. Common problems are sleeping too little, difficulty falling asleep (taking more than 30-45 minutes), awakening frequently during the night, or waking up early and being unable to get back to sleep.

Many of those who have severe problems sleeping report a high level of emotional distress. In depressed people, an overwhelming feeling of sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness, or guilt can be associated with abnormal sleep patterns. Often, the depressed person awakens early and cannot return to sleep. Yet, sometimes, just the opposite is true. Some depressed people find relief in sleeping. They deny or escape from the problems of living.

Many depressed people complain of insomnia without recognizing that they are depressed. If you have lost interest in activities you used to enjoy or if you have feelings of hopelessness or suicidal thoughts, your sleep problems may be a result of depression. Discuss the problem with your physician, who may recommend mental health counseling. When the depression is treated, the accompanying sleep problems usually disappear.

Insomnia comes in many different flavors:

1. Difficulty falling asleep
2. No problem falling asleep but difficulty staying asleep (many awakenings)
3. Waking up too early

How much sleep does a person need?

Enough to feel alert during the day. Typically 7-9 hours (varies from person-to-person) of good quality sleep.

Three basic types of Insomnia

1. Transient insomnia - lasting for a few nights.
2. Short-term insomnia - two or three weeks of poor sleep. Short-term insomnia, lasting up to three weeks, may result from anxiety, nervousness, and physical and mental tension. Typical causes are worries about money, the death of a loved one, marital problems, excessive concern about health, boredom, social isolation, or physical confinement.
3. Chronic insomnia - poor sleep that last three weeks or longer. Long-term insomnia often stems from such health conditions as heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, asthma, chronic sinusitis, epilepsy, ulcers, and depression. Long-term impaired sleep can also be brought on by chronic drug or alcohol use as well as by excessive use of beverages containing caffeine and abuse of sleeping pills.

Difficulty sleeping at night is only one of the symptoms. Daytime symptoms include:

• Sleepiness
• Anxiety
• Impaired concentration
• Impaired memory
• Irritability

Am I getting enough sleep? A simple test for sleepiness.

• Do you need an alarm to wake up in the morning?
• If so, do you usually press the snooze button?
• Do you feel like you need a nap during the day?
• Do you fall asleep while watching TV?
• Does reading a book make you feel sleepy?

Answering "yes" to any of these questions could mean you are not getting enough quality sleep as a result of a shortened sleep period or from a sleep disorder. Talking to your physician is advised.

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