Understanding the Bidirectional Relationship Between Depression and Insomnia

When it comes to your health and wellness, your body and mind often function more holistically than you might realize. Symptoms in your mental health often affect your physical health. And, the connection goes the other way, as well.

One example of this is the bidirectional relationship between depression and insomnia. It’s not always possible to tell which condition started to affect you first, due to the way these conditions relate to one another. However, you can also use that bidirectional link to take control of and improve your mental health and sleep quality.

Untangling insomnia and depression takes expert understanding of the relationship between these conditions. If you’re dealing with symptoms like depressed mood and sleeplessness, get in touch with Dr. Ronald P. Winfield and the team at Greater Lowell Psychiatric Associates for support in regaining your balance.

We provide expert care to individuals dealing with both insomnia and depression from our location in North Chelmsford, Massachusetts. Let’s look more deeply at the connection between these two conditions, and what it means for you.

The science of sleeplessness

Life with insomnia can seem baffling. You feel tired all or most of the time, but struggle to sleep soundly at night. You may find yourself lying awake into the wee hours, or tossing and turning restlessly all night long.

Why does insomnia happen, and how can it be addressed? Increasingly, scientists think that insomnia problems at night have to do with atypical brain activity during the day. If parts of your brain are very active, a state known as “hyperarousal,” it appears to be more difficult for you to rest well at night. 

Insomnia and depression

Unfortunately, just being very mentally active and thinking a lot isn’t the type of brain activity that tends to correlate with insomnia. Instead, the type of brain activity you experience when you’re emotionally depressed is the type that’s more likely to leave you sleepless, as well as oppressed by persistent low mood and negative thoughts and feelings.

Studies show significant connections between insomnia and depression. In fact, if you have insomnia, the type of comorbidities you’re most likely to find yourself dealing with are psychiatric disorders. 

As much as 40% of people treated for insomnia also suffer from other psychiatric conditions, including depression and anxiety, with depression being by far the most common. You may need to address your mental health before you can resolve your insomnia.

Taking control of the bidirectional link

When you understand how your physical and mental health connect, you can do more to improve your real quality of life, rebalancing your physical and mental health. Struggling with sleeplessness can leave you feeling less than your best, and it’s easier to get depressed when your quality of life is low.

Conversely, you might find that getting treated for depression makes your insomnia virtually disappear! Consult with the psychiatric care experts at Greater Lowell Psychiatric Associates to learn how depression can be successfully treated.

For expert, knowledgeable support with depression and insomnia, contact Greater Lowell Psychiatric Associates online or over the phone today and schedule your initial consultation appointment.