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“But it also appears to perpetuate depression.” “Insomnia may serve as a trigger for depression,” Perlis says. “Treat the underlying depression, the thinking went, and sleep problems would go away.” But, recent findings show that insomnia often shows up or gets worse just before a bout of depression. “Until recently, insomnia was typically seen as a symptom of depression,” says Perlis. Current sleep research has found, however, that “insomnia and depression are two distinct but overlapping disorders,” says Michael Perlis, Ph.D., associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania and director of their behavioral sleep medicine program. If you can’t get to sleep or can’t stay asleep, it’s easy to see why you’d become depressed from fatigue or become so tired that you might become anxious about things that might not normally bother you. Is There a Link Between Insomnia and Depression/Anxiety?
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Physical symptoms of insomnia may include headaches, stomach or GI distress, or not feeling well, in general.Difficulty in completing tasks or staying focused.Loss of interested in social activities.Feeling irritable, anxious, or depressed.Waking too early or waking up throughout the night.Insomnia symptoms may include some or all of the following: This is so prevalent that researchers are now saying that chronic insomnia may actually be a predictor of the onset of depression and/or anxiety.Ĭhronic insomnia is defined as having trouble falling asleep or having problems staying asleep most nights during the month. In fact, studies have shown that at least 80% of people who suffer from anxiety and depression also have chronic insomnia. That stands to reason: after all, who wouldn’t be depressed when they are totally exhausted?īut, the combination of insomnia, depression, and anxiety may mean more than just a lack of sleep. Whatever the reason, having more than a few nights of less than quality sleep can make anyone feel fatigued and more than a little depressed. Maybe you have a work project on your mind or it could be that you are worried about a family issue and can’t seem to fall asleep or stay asleep. Most all of us have had the occasional sleeplessness night for one reason or another.
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