Depression and Insomnia

Do you feel depressed and at the same time suffer from insomnia? Have you ever wondered if there was a connection between the two conditions? Well, it seems that in many cases lack of sleep is an indication of depression. Studies show that over 80% of depressed people experience insomnia as well. Insomnia and depression are two distinct disorders interacting with one another, and when the two co-exist, curing the insomnia first can be of considerable help in speeding up the treatment of depression.

Insomnia can actually be a very early sign of depression. In many cases, insomnia precedes depression episodes by four to five weeks. Sleep loss can actually trigger episodes of depression. It can be very useful to know this when searching for a depression and insomnia treatment.

Studies have shown that the sleep patterns of patients suffering from depression are different from the ones of the healthy people. They enter REM sleep faster, and in their case this phase of sleep is longer and more intense. One theory for why this happens is that since REM sleep has an important role in consolidating emotional memories, it may be possible that the intense activation of REM sleep in depressed people triggers the over-consolidation of negative memories. And this is why a depressed person is more inclined to remember negative feelings and events.

Usually, insomnia results in irritability, frustration and anxiety about falling asleep, fatigue, memory problems, and inability to concentrate, which cause a lack of interest in daily activities and also create a pessimistic attitude. So, insomnia can lead to depression. Therefore, if both disorders affect you and you are intent on searching for the most effective medication for depression and insomnia, it may be a good idea to address insomnia first and observe whether or not the depression episodes disappear.