Rarely does anyone talk about the extent of tiredness depression brings about. Usually, the main focus is on symptoms like apathy, hopelessness, mood swings, or social isolation. For those of us who struggle with depression, healthy amounts of sleep can be an ever-evading force.
For some depressed individuals, sleep troubles manifest in the form of insomnia or restlessness. This sleep deprivation can cause a lack of effectiveness of your brain cells and can significantly affect your perceptions of your surroundings.
On the flip side, some of us deal with oversleeping. Oversleeping can throw your circadian rhythm off-balance and increase your chances of getting headaches, back pain, and a myriad of other ailments.
Lately, I’ve been sleeping more than I’ve been awake. Sleeping upwards of 10+ hours a day, yet every time I wake up- I feel like I haven’t slept at all. I wake up, eat, and immediately go back to sleep. Granted, I’m on winter break from college and am able to sleep all day, but being this horribly unproductive and tired all the time is hugely taxing on psyche.
Our bodies need sleep, but depression makes it seem like you’ve been on a 3-day bender and are in desperate need of rest after waking up at 10 in the morning. Not only that but in some cases, the more you sleep, the more tired you feel.
You become stuck between wanting to give your body the rest it’s asking for or toughing it out and forcing yourself to get things done.
Socially, you have to factor in how much energy you can muster per interaction. Even something as low intensity as lunch with a friend can feel like you’re running on the Amazing Race.
Constant exhaustion prevents a person from being able to meet deadlines, attend social events, or do anything they would typically find fun. All you want to do is sleep and then sleep some more.
It’s quite honestly a horrible feeling to have because you feel so hopeless. No amount of coffee or Red Bulls can help pull you out of your sleepy haze, so you’ll feel like an extra from the Walking Dead until your brain decides to bless you with some serotonin.
. . . . . .
Join my mailing list to be notified whenever I post!
Solér Bean is a freelance writer and an always-exhausted college student. A Las Vegas native, she lives with her mom, dad, little brother, and Malcolm- the needy schnauzer. She’s been writing for five years about politics, various social issues, race, relationships, dating, and mental health. She is currently a top writer in the ‘BlackLivesMatter’ and ‘Racism’ categories on Medium! Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
