The Correlation Between Depression And Insomnia

Stress, anxiety, stimulants, medications, midnight meals and schedule changes can all cause insomnia, but its effects prove universal - without sleep, patients lack energy and motor abilities, and feel irritable and depressed. Some experts claim that as many as 19 million Americans suffer from depression every year. Such high numbers imply that there may be an overlap between individuals with depression and sleep problems. In fact, sleep disturbance is one of the core symptoms of clinical depression. People with sleep disorders are also more likely to suffer depressive and anxiety disorders. Individuals suffering from depression have chemical imbalances, primarily the neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin levels also effect sleep. Low serotonin levels cause depression, but studies suggest that sleep replenishes serotonin levels. There is a dynamic relationship between sleep and depression, where the quality of sleep either affects or is affected by the presence or lack of depression.

Americans need to pay attention to their sleeping habits. While it is normal to have a difficult time sleeping when worrying about an upcoming deadline or after an exciting event, frequent occurrences necessitate another look. This is not to say that every person with a sleeping disorder or depression has both, but that the signs of either behavior warrant monitoring.