In a research paper that will be published in the Journal of Behavioral Sleep Medicine, researchers have confirmed that there is indeed a relationship between insomnia and depression, but not exactly what you might have thought.
Many depression sufferers and their physicians have long thought that insomnia was caused by depression. “You can’t sleep because of the depression.” But now that there have been several successful depression medications released and prescribed, doctors are noticing that once the depression is cured the insomnia still remains. So what gives?
Well, the new theory is that insomnia is a contributer to or a predictor of depression. I’m sure many of us know the person who has insomnia, drinks alcohol or takes a sleeping pill to get to sleep, and the suffers subsequently from depression. It’s a pattern seen quite often, especially with women.
Another unique finding of the study is that the group most likely to suffer from their first instance of depression, were those who suffered from “middle insomnia”–that is when you wake up several times throughout the night but then go back to sleep. This of course could apply to any of us at some point in our lives- such as times of severe stress or change.
Doctors consider this finding important because it suggests that if you target and treat the insomnia that you will no doubt either eliminate the chance for a first-depressive episode or speed in the recovery of a depressive episode.
More studies are planned to look into this relationship deeper and to learn how improve sleep patterns of people. If you are battling depression and have sought treatment, but are still suffering from insomnia–talk to your doctor about ways to combat the insomnia. Make sure he or she doesn’t explain your insomnia away as a result of your depression. Treat both separately but simultaneously.
Related Reading:
Say Good Night to Insomnia: The Six-Week, Drug-Free Program Developed At Harvard Medical School
by Gregg Jacobs, Herbert Benson
Have you taken our free depression screening yet?
Lisa Angelettie, M.S.W., is a psychotherapist, author, and life coach. She has been helping people make smarter life choices since 1998. Get more free tips like this when you subscribe to the GirlShrink newsletter .
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