Finding effective sleep remedies often means finding an underlying cause to a person’s insomnia. And if it happens that they are suffering from depression, there’s a very good chance that this will turn out to be either directly responsible for the sleeping problems, or a large part of the cause. If they are not yet on medications for the depression, then finding a good antidepressant might automatically deal with the insomnia as the depression is brought under control. Or if they are already taking a medication, they might need to make an adjustment to dosage, or find a different drug.
Depression and sleep disorders are very closely related. In fact, some medical journals have suggested that as many as eighty five percent of depressed patients have insomnia problems that need to be treated. And it’s not just that depression causes insomnia, but insomnia can work in the opposite direction, worsening the depression. Complaints about lack of sleep can often be used to predict the likelihood of a new depressive episode within a year. So finding the best sleep remedies is very important for a person who suffers from depression.
Some antidepressant medications have also been shown to be effective for treating sleep problems. Those who aren’t depressed but use stress relieving sedatives such as Valium have an easier time falling asleep; just keep in mind that this kind of medication can exacerbate problems such as sleep apnea.
If you’re looking for something more natural, St. John’s Wort is recommended by many as an effective sleep remedy, and it is also used to treat depressive conditions as well. Although many people will attest to its effectiveness, scientific research has not yet established its efficacy.
When a cycle of chronic insomnia and depression is underway, each feeding off the other, sometimes the person can help break the cycle by altering routines and using other physical means to try to break through the sleeplessness. Some of these sleep remedies might involve having regular bedtime routines, using the bed only for sleep and sex, relaxing and meditating before bedtime, and other behavioral therapies. If these are helping to reduce the insomnia, it’s often possible that antidepressant medication can do the rest, and stop depression and insomnia from egging each other on.
Everyone needs a regular sleep cycle. Your body cannot function without it. Sure, you may be able to go a few nights without sleep but once sleep deprivation hits it can hit like a ton of bricks. When that happens, you need an effective sleep remedy. Click here to find the sleep remedies that will work for you.