A type of major depressive disorder, morning depression is a mental health illness. It causes people to experience greater symptoms of depression during morning, as opposed to the rest of the day.
Much like the rest of the forms of depression, morning depression takes a great toll on your physical and mental health. It requires proper diagnosis and treatment from a Psychiatrist in Lahore then.
Symptoms of morning depression
Morning depression can cause people to wake up on the wrong side of the bed. They might then oversleep or not get out of bed. Morning depression also causes people to feel anxious and sad, especially during the morning.
Alongside causing low energy in the morning, the depression also causes people to become despondent, sad, and teary. It also makes them lose interest in the activities that they once enjoyed.
Morning depression also leads to emotional problems like frustration, agitation, and sadness. It also causes people to have cognitive problems. It makes people also feel empty as well. Depression causes dietary issues as well.
If you are experiencing these symptoms, you should consult a mental health expert for diagnosis and treatment.
Causes of morning depression
Circadian rhythm
Circadian rhythm is your body’s clock, that ideally should match the rhythm of day and night. This clock also affects various processes around the body, one being your endocrine system, which regulates hormones in your body.
And since hormones manage your sleep-wake cycle and mood, therefore, the changes and problems in your circadian rhythm might also be to blame for morning depression.
High stress levels
Having high stress levels in the body can also lead to the risk of morning depression, as it leads to greater cortisol levels. It can then lead to heightened risk of morning depression then.
High inflammation
There is some evidence to suggest that high levels of inflammation in the body can lead to greater risk of morning depression as well.
Treatment for morning depression
Your doctor will devise a treatment plan that best fits your condition, but commonly used approaches for treating morning depression include:
Medication
There are anti-depressants that some people might need to manage their condition better. However, since morning depression is a different category of depression, it might not respond well to SSRIs and may require the use of SNRIs.
Therapy
Another technique that is used is therapy. Often, psychotherapy to talk therapy is used by experts to treat patients. Helpful types of talk therapies include CBT –cognitive behavioral therapy–, interpersonal therapy, etc.
Combination
Some patients might be prescribed a combination of therapy and medication for to get better.
Light therapy
Light plays an important role in the endocrine system, as it signals secretion and inhibition of certain hormones. These then have an impact on your mood, sleep, and mental health. Hence, light therapy is also used for the treatment of morning depression. The premise is simple; you increase your exposure to outdoor or natural light or use sources that mimic those.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
A more aggressive form of treatment, ECT uses electric current to the brain to treat depression. In it, a person is put under general anesthesia. Current is then passed through the brain to change its chemistry and treat depression.
Lifestyle changes
Some lifestyle changes can also help in moderating morning depression as well. These include:
- Physical activity: Being physically active and regularly exercising are helpful for improving your mood. Exercise helps in releasing endorphins and lowering stress levels.
- Improving your sleep: Work on your sleep, as it plays a pivotal role for your mental and physical health.
- Plan timely: Make a list of things to do for the next day, a night before. It prevents you from becoming overwhelmed upon waking up. And start your day with manageable tasks, and gradually add tasks to your schedule.
- Self-love and self-help techniques: Try to meditate, use mindfulness, od journaling, and get plenty of sunlight.
A word of caution here; even though lifestyle changes can help with improving the symptoms of morning depression, you must still enlist the help from a Psychiatrist in Karachi for proper treatment.
