Insomnia and Depression

Is there a relationship with insomnia and depression? There is a link between depression and insomnia. Depression causes insomnia. In depression, people try to sleep but are not able to.

Some Common Names For Insomnia

There are some alternative names for insomnia. These are

• Insomnia
• Inability to sleep
• Dyssomnia
• Sleeplessness

Definition of Insomnia

Insomnia is a sleeping problem which means difficulty in sleeping when you first go to bed at night or waking up frequently in the night or waking up too much early in the morning.

Connection Between Insomnia and Depression

Insomnia is not just the depression symptoms, even disordered sleep may lead to depression. Delay in treating insomnia lead to first episode of depression. Insomnia depression is not just less sleep or waking up in the early morning. Actually sleep has well defined pattern. We cycle 4 to 5 times a night through a relaxed sleep marked by slow waves. People who are in depression fall in REM sleep, means that in sleep, people are in lot of pressures. People can get depressed in dream also.

When people experience insomnia, they get frustrated and full of anxiety. To compensate with sleep, they take some behavioral step. They stay in bed after morning for a long time or go to the bed early in the next night. But this behavior changes the pattern of sleep.

Effect of Depression and Insomnia

• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Lose concentration
• loss of interest in activities

Actually depression is second step of insomnia. It disturbs the brain functioning ability.

Causes of Insomnia Depression

• Worry
• Anxiety
• More excitement
• Shift work
• Excessive sleep during the day
• Alcohol, caffeine at bedtime.
• Side effects of medicine
• Stopping a medication
• Heart or lung problems

Home Treatment

Avoid alcohol or caffeine before sleeping. Set fixed time to sleep. Do not use bedroom for other activity. When you are in bed use relaxation techniques that feel better. But don't imagine some creative thing that disturbs your mind and thus your sleeping pattern will change. Don't stay in bed for a longer period of time. Your computer or TV should be out of your bedroom. Your mind will change to stimulate it. And thus it makes harder to sleep. Try to listen to music, take bath, read some storybooks before going to sleep. Exercise is helpful but if done 2 hours before sleeping. Aerobic exercise is best for depressed people. Avoid stressful situation before sleeping.

Therapy And Oil Treatment For Insomnia Depression

Aromatherapy

This therapy is most useful therapy. It gives good respond to stress related condition including insomnia.

Oil For Insomnia Depression

You can use any oil but sunflower oil and sweet almond oil are used as carrier oil. You can make combination of carrier oil and essential oil. Essential oil includes camomile and geranium. For adults, dose is 25ml carrier with 7 to 8 drops of essential oil. For children, dose is 3 to 4 drops of essential oil with 25ml carrier.

Following Are Some Essential Oils That Are Useful For Sleep.

• Styrax Benzoin
• Matricaria chamomilla and chamaemele nobile
• Jsaminum officinalis
• Lavendula officinalis
• Citrus aurantium amara
• Rosa damascena
• Santalum album
• Origanum marjarana
• Cananga odorata genuine
• Lemon balm, Melissa officinalis

Antidepressants Treatment For Insomnia Depression

Sleep disturbance leads to insomnia depression. It is an integral part of depressive disorder. More than 90% depressed people complaint about insomnia. Thus insomnia depression requires antidepressants treatment. At initial state of insomnia, dose of serotonin reuptake inhibitors or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors are given. Where as antidepressant drugs with 5-HT2 blocking properties, such as mirtazapine or nefazodone improves sleep pattern. This treatment increases total sleep.