Lack of sleep does not cause depression per se it is more of side effect that can deepen the hold that depression has on your life. From my own experience I can say that during my bouts with severe depression sleep was at a premium and transient insomnia was a regular occurrence. The anxiety and listlessness that comes along with depression kept me up for long stretches of time and when I did get sleep it was often interrupted and I could not fall asleep again once I was awake.
If your depression has been triggered by a life altering event such as a breakup or death of a loved one then it probably has been a tremendous shock to your routine and schedule. Trying to reestablish a routine in your life goes a long way at acclimating your body to feel tired and want to rest during certain times of the evening. So instead of tossing and turning each night you will begin to feel sleepy and be able to go to bed when you’re tired.
Overcoming depression is about more than just getting to sleep on time, it is a process that requires getting to the roots of your depression and anxiety and addressing them properly. Sleep is just one of the ways you can address your depression and be able to think clearly about putting forward solutions.
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