Depression is one of the most common, and at the same time, the most dangerous mental disorder, affecting approx. 10% of the population. This disease can affect anyone, regardless of skin colour, age, or gender, and sometimes regardless of genetics. How can you live in a way so as not to fall into depression? Is it possible to prevent it even though living in a culture that is rushed and stressed? Why is it said that depression and insomnia go hand in hand?
Although we have written about it many times, we still emphasise that depression is not a temporary depressed mood or the blues. It is a chronic and long-term lack of energy, lack of will to live, declining social skills, lack of self-confidence, and very low self-esteem. Depression is also accompanied by insomnia, which exacerbates its symptoms and makes it even more bothersome.
Who suffers from depression?
– People with a genetic predisposition and whose parents or grandparents have experienced depression are more likely to develop the disease.
– People with a mental predisposition, i.e., more sensitive, less self-confident, or unable to cope with stress.
– People who have been traumatised or experienced severe stress.
Depression and sleep
Depression and insomnia are said to go hand in hand. Not surprisingly, people with depression almost always complain of insomnia, and insomnia and persistent sleep disturbance can lead to depression. So if you want to prevent both disorders, you need to approach sleep with care and awareness. What do we mean? Treat rest as an essential part of your life, both day and night. Make time for breaks from work and also focus on what your sleep patterns are like when it gets dark. Remember that sleep is just as important as breathing or eating! Without it, your body simply stops working and living.
Why is sleep so important:
– It is responsible for the regulation of all hormonal systems in the body and therefore affects the production of, among others, melatonin, cortisol, and serotonin.
– It affects the physical condition by providing energy to all cells in the body.
– Its absence significantly affects our well-being, perception of the world, and relationships with other people.
– Without it, our brain stops working properly and makes it more difficult for us to focus or absorb information.
– Deprived of adequate rest, we have lower immunity (we get sick more often), and we become more susceptible to eating disorders and obesity.
Did you know that people who do not have good sleep hygiene are up to ten times more likely to develop depression than those who get enough rest?
Prevent instead of cure
So if you want to keep your body healthy and avoid depression and accompanying insomnia, start working on your habits today. Regulate the times you get up and go to bed, sleep at least seven hours, take naps during the day if you feel tired, and take breaks from work. Also, remember that an enemy of rest is blue light, i.e., the light your mobile phone emits. So avoid staring at your smartphone at every free moment, and instead, breathe with your eyes closed, listen to music, or go for a walk.
How the weighted blanket works
If you have difficulty falling asleep and waking up and you are too tense during the day, you can use the weighted blanket, which is a proven and effective therapeutic tool used in the treatment of sleep disorders. The blanket is filled with slightly heavier glass microbeads to give gentle and even pressure on the body. For our brain, it is a signal that we are in a safe space and that we are protected, just like when hugging a loved one. The body can then turn off all “controls” responsible for wakefulness and catching threats and go into a state of deep relaxation.
