Monday 11 May 2009

One of the reasons for poor sleep could be depression. Or it could be the other way around, poor sleep is leading to depression. I'm sure everyone has been there at sometime or other, where sleep won't come because of the thoughts going round in our head. For some this is due to a temporary stress and rights itself. For many though it can be a vicious circle that goes on and on.

Mild depression can also become exacerbated with lack of sleep. The correlation between sleep and depression is a strong one, creating a viscous circle and can exacerbate both problems. The more weary and exhausted you become, the more difficult it is to get through the day. You may become isolated from your friends, take sick days from work. It is often thought depression causes a poor appetite leading to under eating. It is just as common for a depressed person to eat more than usual, taking comfort in eating. If this results in putting weight on this can lead to deeper depression and low self esteem.

I have mentioned previously how sleep problems affect our daily lives. Long periods of not sleeping well can lead to clinical depression. I am not an advocate of sleeping tablets, however I would recommend seeing your doctor if you do have long term sleeping problems that are leading to depression. Or the other way around if your depression is causing sleep problems. If lack of sleep is leaning you towards depression, a short course of sleeping tablets may help you get back into a pattern. My own mum had sleeping problems, she eventually went to the Doctors and she gave her a two week course of sleeping tablets. This solved her problem even after stopping the tablets. We did get her a new memory foam bed too and this also helped.

Although it is the last thing you feel like doing when you are tired, exercise can help lift both your mood, with the release of endorphins. A healthy diet can also help. High fat and stodgy food put pressure on your body. A healthy diet can give you more energy and enhance your mood. Did your mum used to say "oh she's run down must get her a tonic". Mums really do know best even if we didn't think so at the time. A tonic may help, a healthy diet is even better.

Please don't suffer in silence, talk to someone you feel you can, such as friends, family, a doctor or counsellor. If your bed is causing lack of sleep, a new one will help. If this isn't the cause, please do seek professional help such as counselling, medication, cognitive therapy. If you don't know where to turn to please visit the MIND website as they have a lot of advice on there. I wish you all the happiness in the world.