depression and sleeping

[viper57]

Hi need to know if its ok to sleep a lot when depressed   my tablets make me  so relaxed I sleep for few hours in the day     

[Mares73]

Hi Viper sleeping more than usual could be a side effect of the medication especially if you have recently started one. But it can also be a common side effect of depression. This is something you probably need to ask your Dr about. Especially if your finding your sedated during the day. What type of antidepressants are you on? Your not allowed to name them but you can say what category they are in. This might help in terms of hearing about other people's experiences? Take care, Mares x

[Lara]

Hi Viper57, 

i have found that while initially adjusting to medication it can make you very tired. How you been on them long? It's important to monitor dosage with your GP, are you able to talk to a GP about it? Regular exercise like walking can help but sometimes it's hard to even get the energy to do that I'd suggest the GP first.

take care 

Lara 

[geoff]

dear Viper, I can only agree with what Mares and Lara have said, as it takes awhile until your body can adjust to this new medication, and remember it's a chemical which is trying to balance the chemicals in your brain.

That doesn't sound to be pleasant in what I have said, but it has happened to all of us, in that our serotonin levels have had an imbalance.

The other point is that if you are also drinking alcohol this could eccentrically worsen your sleeping hours. Geoff.

[AGrace]

Hi viper,

I think in times of stress, depression, anxiety, being medicated sleep hygiene is one of the first things to go haywire. Im in complete agreeance with the others, however id also say from my experience that sometimes its up to us to make the changes. Sleeping during the day isnt all that healthy as it can disturb the quantity and quality of sleep at night. Our sleep hormones kick in at around 3/4pm so often we can feel a sense of fatigue around this time. Its preferable to ride out this wave.

Some of the things I found helpful were

Checking the temperature of the room your in, during winter heaters can make us feel sleepy. If possible keep a couple of windows open a bit to let cool air in.

Plan outdoor activities during times when you tend to get tired, even if just reading a magazine outside

Be mindful of stimulants such as sugar and caffeine, they can bring on a speedy high but then leave you feeling low/tired

Keep a regular sleep routine, going to bed and waking up at the same time every day

I hope this is helpful, if all else fails give your body what it need for a little while and sleep, but then try again in a week or so

AGrace