Depression linked to sleep

[hoggie]

I found this article interesting. In a US study, they have linked depression in teenagers to lack of sleep. The reason I find this quite SO interesting, is that I have quit trying to work late at night. I am usually in bed and asleep by about 8.30, and then wake early and work then. I am getting more achieved, but the big plus is that I am SO much better. I am not even feeling a hint of the normal winter depression!

Funny, I nearly posted about this a few days ago, knowing that others on here suffer in the winter, but held off thinking you'd all think me mad (no change there then ). Then today this is on the BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8435955.stm

hoggie

[PinkBat]

This is really a vicious cycle because depression also causes insomnia.

I go to bed early too. When do you get up? I find that I don't need very many hours of sleep....5 or 6 seems to be all I can get or need.

[FarmerChick]

yea I think lack of sleep is related to tons of problems

I go to bed about 12-1 and get up about 6-7
I don't get enough...getting older and feeling it now..LOL

[simplemaninPR]

Teenagers need a lot of sleep. Mine sleep 8-12 hours a day. When I was a teenager I use to sleep all day on the weekends and then go out at night. I think it is normal.

Now, that I am an old man (53) I don't sleep as much. Usually 4-5 hours is plenty. I am not usually depressed. When I lived in the northern states during the winter I would develop what is called S.A.D.S. That was caused by not enough sunshine in my life.

Living in the southern climates cured me of S.A.D.S. There is also a special light (Sunlamp) that one can sit under a few hours a day that will prevent this problem too.

ernest

[Mid Tn Mama]

I'm surprised more people didnt' comment on this. I'm happy for you that you are experiencing this positive effect.

I started a regular exercise program a couple years ago and noticed that I slept more, fell asleep more easily and slept more deeply than ever before. As a result, I was much more alert, worried less about things and bounced back more quickly even when things happpened that were sad or difficult. I'm a believer!

I became sick and was hospitalized so I stopped my exercise program--wow--big difference in sleep and how I felt generally. When I was able to exercise again, the good effects started again.

I recently saw a show about this on the science show NOVA. I'll post a link where you can see it below. There were so many interesting scientific studies about sleep, but the one I found most interesting was that if they woke people from one type of sleep (forgot which) they would answer word associations in negative or morbid ways. People who had their full cycle were positive in outlook. Wow!

Here is the link:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3410/01.html

[longshadowfarms]

One of my teens NEEDS to get out and exercise or he doesn't sleep well and then gets into a depression phase. I'd never had SAD before but this year in Alaska with those short days I could NOT wake up my brain before noon and then I'd have trouble getting to sleep! A couple of days with the daylight-light and a few nights with melatonin put me back to a more normal sleep cycle.

[ChristyACB]

Sleep is proven over and over to be the key to general well being in humans. Quality sleep of sufficient quantity.

The key to getting that sleep just happens to be decent nutrition, hydration, a good frame of mind and exercise.

Which, of course, no one ever has all of. Sleep then suffers.

For me the sleep issue is getting ridiculous. I'm tossing and turning, after sleeping on a bad mattress in Newport away from home for 5 weeks, and can't get back into my groove in my nice comfy bed.

I miss good sleep...miss it like a best friend!

[JuliaAnn]

If I don't get at least 4 hours or so of *uninterrupted* sleep, meaning sleep where I don't wake up at all, I am guaranteed of a headache the next day and if I wake up often during the night, I'm guaranteed a migrane.

I need at least 4 hours of sleep without waking up at all, and at least 8 overall, even at my age. Otherwise, I just drag around all day.

[okgoatgal2]

i've suffered insomnia since i was 14 (25 yrs now)
even as a teen, when i was very active, i had trouble sleeping. it hasn't gotten better with age. i need to go to bed now.
exercise does help. but insomnia...it is vicious