It's increasingly becoming clear that depression and insomnia (失眠) are often linked as interrelated disorders, and that they are often related in a variety of ways. In fact, some scientists have gone so far as to suggest that medical practitioners should be wary of diagnosing depression without evidence of sleep complaints by the individual.
According to a study from Harvard Health, as many as 75% of individuals with depression suffered from insomnia while 69% of people with insomnia also struggled with depression later on suggesting that the two disorders often go hand in hand. Issues with sleep due to depression can happen in various ways, including changes to sleep regulation processes or side effects of prescription medicine. This, in turn, may worsen symptoms of depression, but experts note that depressive disorders without insomnia or other sleep disorders are increasingly rare.
Both depression and insomnia are common disorders that cause people some disturbance worldwide. When dealing with either of these issues, the person can have difficulty maintaining a good quality of life. Scientists estimate that 40% of Americans will struggle with insomnia at one point in their life, while an estimated 17.3 million U.S. adults will deal with the symptoms of a major depression episode at least once per year.
But the good news is that treating one condition may improve symptoms of both. "You don't need to rush off to see a specialist; but there are other things we can do to take care of ourselves/' says Dr. Chisholm." Physical exercise is very important lor good sleep and protective against depression, as are healthy eating habits and staying off alcohol. Make sure you stay active and go back to the things that interest you and give you pleasure. Opening up to a trusted friend about your struggles with insomnia or a depressed mood may also help. And sleeping pills should be taken only for a short time, if at all, because you may develop a dependence. Plus, the medicine won't address underlying causes of your insomnia/'