For some people who are battling depression, their mood tends to drop even more at nighttime. Keep on reading if you are one of them — this article will tell you some of the most common reasons behind the worsening of your depression the moment that the sun has set.
Got family members and friends who are suffering from depression, too? Perhaps some of them also have increased depression at night but are too embarrassed to talk about it. Reposting this article later on before you go allows them to learn that any or more of the following could be causing their depression to worsen upon hopping into bed:
Having the Chance to Ruminate
Ruminating — depressed individuals tend to engage in this each time that they have the chance to do so. Put simply, it’s all about thinking over and over again unfavorable or negative experiences in the past.
More often than not, you tend to ruminate each time that your mind and body is not busy with something, and that’s why it tends to happen at night. This is why it’s a good idea for you to engage in activities that can keep you from ruminating, such as listening to music, reading a book or solving a crossword puzzle.
Being Exposed to Artificial Light
Sleep experts say that exposure to artificial light given off by a lamp or the TV can disrupt melatonin production, which is the hormone that regulates your sleep-wake cycle. Naturally, lack of melatonin can leave you wide awake at night.
The trouble with being sleepless is that it can make your depression worse. Having the mental disorder is also known to cause insomnia — depression and lack of sleep can make one another worse, and dealing with only one of them makes it so much easier to put the other under control.
Visiting Social Media
Do you make it a habit to check out your social media feed while waiting for sleepiness to make its presence known? Then it’s very much likely that this habit of yours is the one that is making your depression worse at night.
First, checking out the posts of your contacts isn’t good for your self-esteem and ultimately mental health. Second, that smartphone you are using for taking a look at your social media feed emits blue light — just like what’s mentioned above, artificial light can keep you from having some shut-eye which is bad for your mood.
Drinking Alcoholic Beverages
Is it your habit to have some alcohol before going to sleep because your depression makes it hard for you to take a trip to dreamland? Then it’s this unhealthy coping mechanism that is making your depression worse.
Alcohol is a depressant, and it can certainly cause your mood to drop. Even though drinking can make it so much easier for you to fall asleep, the fact is that the quality of sleep you may obtain is not the restorative kind. Especially if you are popping antidepressants in your mouth, it’s not a good idea for you to mix them with alcoholic beverages.
Having High Levels of Stress
Scientists say that people who are depressed tend to have elevated levels of cortisol, which is one of the many stress hormones. It’s due to this why being stressed is something that can make you feel depressed.
At the end of a particularly tiring day at work or at home, the levels of cortisol in your bloodstream usually remain high unless you engage in some stress-relieving activities. Needless to say, de-stressing by meditating or listening to calming songs can help in eliminating excess cortisol from your body, thus saving your depression from getting aggravated.
