Did you know that sleep, or lack thereof it, is medically proven to be linked to clinical depression? Insomnia, an incredibly common disorder in many American adults, is a disorder that prevents predictable, sufficient sleep in individuals every single night. It is most common in older adults, due to physical illness, and women due to their significant hormonal fluctuations throughout their lifetimes. This inability to get to sleep or to maintain sleep throughout the night has been proven to be a key contributing factor to the onset of depression.
To make matters worse, this sleepless cycle feeds on itself by providing the person with more time to ponder and worry about things in their day. As they obsess and worry over various people and events, they kick their brain back into full “working” mode, making slumber a far off dream.
Why is sleep important?
Sleep provides our bodies with much-needed time to clean our brains of toxins, physically restore ourselves, finish memorization, mental activities, and the absorption of information, regulate our mood, and strengthen our immune systems. In order to make sure these activities are occurring, we need to be setting aside at least 7 uninterrupted hours of sleep for our bodies to rest throughout the evening. Though different people require different amounts of sleep, 7 hours is the scientifically agreed upon minimum rate for a middle aged adult.
Start making a change.
Make a list of things you need to do before you sleep to let your brain turn off at night. Don’t look at electronics 1 hour before bed. Read books. Say prayers. Lastly, incorporate more physical activity into your day. Exercise helps tire your body down for restful sleep at night.
Always remember: sleep is the best cure for depression