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Nighttime Depression

Nighttime depression is an unspecific term; however, nighttime and sleep do have close relationships with depression. For some, depression may get worse at night, and for others, it may get better. According to MayoClinic.com, depression affects individuals in different ways.

  1. Depression

    • Disturbed sleep, or insomnia, is a common symptom of depression. Other features of depression may include feelings of guilt or hopelessness, fatigue, loss of interest in enjoyable activities, difficulty concentrating, and suicidal behavior.

    Insomnia

    • Insomnia refers to difficulty getting to sleep and staying asleep. According to an article from PsychologyToday.com, insomnia may trigger depressive episodes.

    Light

    • According to research conducted on mice by a team from Ohio State University and detailed in a 2009 ScienceDaily.com article, exposure to too much light, interrupting a natural cycle of light and dark, at night may cause depressive symptoms.

    Treatment

    • Antidepressant medications and cognitive-behavioral therapy may help to ease depression and restore normal patterns of sleep.

    Considerations

    • According to Clinical-Depression.co.uk, those with depression may be prone to having dreams that disturb sleep and leave the person feeling un-rested.

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