Posted by awake at last on August 6, 2002, at 12:07:28
In reply to Help me diagnose this sleep behavior, posted by dave_fox on August 5, 2002, at 13:02:55
> I know depression can affect sleep patterns and can cause people to sleep more or to sleep less.
>
> But there is something which puzzles me. I have noticed in two separate people (who may or may not be depressed) that they spend many hours in bed. Perhaps 10 hours or so. They go to bed at 1am which is not all that late. Then they remain in bed until something like 11 . They might also go for a lie down in the afternoon. They have done this for at least a year or more.
>
> When I ask them they say they are not sleeping. It seems they are sort of thinking. Or musing. kindof reflecting but without being very conscious of it.
>
> Does this sort of sleep behavior tend to occur in certain mood or other psychological disturbances? I know that no indicator or symptom is certain to predict a given mental condition but I would like to understand what this sleep behavior might imply.
***********************************************Since I was first diagnosed with Depression (and none of the medications helped), I later discovered that I was suffering from a Sleep Disorder (Narcolepsy) - now I am better.
From all my research I have found that there is definitely a major connection between sleep and depression, but which one is the causing factor isn't always diagnosed properly.
In all my readings, the research is very contradictive, some say that depressives are often insomniacs others say they sleep alot. Some say that sleep disorders cause a person to have insomnia or sleep excessively, both of which can cause depression.However you look at it. If a person is sleeping excessively or not sleeping, I feel they should go thorough a sleep study to rule this out as the cause of their depression.
As a side note - with my Narcolepsy, it was not unusual for me to do what I call "Zone out". I would sit and stare in space, not really thinking, not sleeping, and usually didn't realize that I had been doing it. I could drive from my house to work and not remember making the trip, though I know I got there had to have made all the right turns etc.... it's really weird and I never really thought about it until someone else pointed it out.
poster:awake at last
thread:115303
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020731/msgs/115409.html