Almost 90 percent of people around the globe experience depression once in their life. Fatigue is a prominent sign of major depressive disorder. Moreover, fatigue can impair concentration, increase irritability, and decrease productivity, disrupting the sufferers’ daily routines.
This blog is a perfect guide to learning about the connection between depression and tiredness.
What Is Depression?
Depression is a widely spread and common mental health condition that leads to constant feelings of sadness and altered sleeping and eating patterns; it also affects the way a person behaves. It is divided into many categories. However, the most commonly experienced one is major depressive disorder.
Common Signs Of Depression
The most common signs of depression are as follows:
- Extreme low mood
- Hopelessness
- Irritated mood
- Excessive eating
- Insomnia
- Low energy
- Concentration issues
- Physical issues such as sexual dysfunctioning
- Suicidal Ideation
Why Does Depression Cause Tiredness?
Numerous reasons ponder on the reason why depression can lead to tiredness. Some of the common reasons are:
Brain Chemistry:
Our brain is made up of chemical messengers known as neurotransmitters. These are the chemical messengers of the human body, and some neurotransmitters are linked with brain function. For instance, dopamine is one of the neurotransmitter hormones produced in the brain to control memory, motivation, and the reward system. Recent studies show that a low dopamine level causes issues that lead to depression and, therefore, cause fatigue and tiredness.
Sleep Problems:
Depression is a not-so-mild issue if it hampers your ability to sleep during the night. Additionally, when people cannot get enough rest, their bodies require them to be tired and unable to rest well. Such a person usually stays awake in bed for hours and experiences feelings of restlessness. Depression signs can also deteriorate if a person is unable to give the body the required rest.
Increased Stress Levels:
Depression can cause a sudden increase in the stress levels as well. Stress is a leading reason for intense signs of depression, as it changes the severity of depression. Additionally, chronic stress can negatively impact the sleep cycle of the patient, causing depression-related fatigue.
Chemical Imbalances:
Depression is strongly linked to chemicals in the brain. It affects particular neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine. Recent studies suggest that these neurotransmitters play a role in modulating mood, energy, and well-being. Thus, even if there is a tiny shift in the levels of these neurotransmitters, it results in severe fatigue; that is why it is considered a specific somatic symptom of MDD.
Emotional Exhaustion:
A person who has any psychological disorder is always overwhelmed or exhausted with emotions. Making the affected person feel tired because they are emotionally drained, resulting in tiredness and low mood. Moreover, even the routine tasks feel so burdensome and overwhelming.
Is Tiredness A Form Of Depression?
Tiredness is not a form but a sign of depression. However, it is the initial sign of depression. It is common for a depressive person to feel physically and emotionally drained. Depression is strongly linked with feelings of sadness or extreme hopelessness, tiredness, and lowered energy levels. However, not every person suffering from depression feels the same signs. Some may experience feelings of tiredness more often, while others may feel restlessness.
What Are The Ways To Manage Depression-Induced Fatigue?
If you are experiencing depression fatigue and looking for ways to manage it, then here are some of the valuable tips to overcome depression fatigue.
Practice Good Sleep:
Good sleep hygiene is the key to managing depression and tiredness. This means setting a healthy sleep routine (peaceful sleep). For instance, setting up a proper sleep and wake schedule, avoiding screens, large meals, and caffeinated drinks for a quiet sleep, and using your bed just for sleeping instead of performing activities like reading books, scrolling your phone, or even meditating. This will eventually help your brain associate bed with sleeping instead of other activities. Some people may find it hard to sleep on the bed. To prevent it, you can lie on the couch, and once you feel sleepy, you can get back to bed to have a peaceful sleep.
Exercise:
Proper exercise can reduce depression to some extent. Physical activity aids in providing the body with the required energy. The more a depressive person exercises, the better the muscle cells obtain oxygen, positively impacting the brain and the body, leading to a healthy sleeping cycle.
Increasing Daily Activities:
Depression severely impacts your motivation to the extent that even a simple task feels like an immense burden. However, an increase in activities can promote a peaceful sleep. When a person performs excessive activities, the body requires rest. However, it is the opposite of depression. A depressive person can feel tired while just sleeping and sitting around.
Additionally, this sitting around can lead to depressive thoughts, which eventually makes the affected person feel demotivated and hopeless. One of the many ways to overcome it is to increase activities. This comes under the category of cognitive behavioral therapy, known as behavioral activation. This will only give you the energy to perform more activities.
Nutritious Diet:
A person suffering from depression is likely to have poor appetite and equally likely to have excessive appetite due to lack of energy, hence getting fatigued. A healthy sleeping routine and healthy eating habits both play a crucial role in promoting mental well-being while experiencing depression. Some foods can help with depression and fatigue and boost energy. These usually include proteins, fats, and carbs, such as veggies, whole grains, and healthy oils. Moreover, eating nutritious food and eating in smaller portions can help reduce the negative signs and depression fatigue.
Recap!
Depression is a severe mental health illness that is strongly linked with fatigue and leads to disruption in the daily life routine of the affected person. It can cause imbalances in the brain and trigger stress. While tiredness is a common sign of depression, it can be managed if identified earlier. The most common yet efficient ways of managing depression fatigue are to improve sleep, exercise, activity, and diet.
If you are suffering from depression fatigue and you are not able to figure out how to deal with it, then you have come to the right place. Inland Empire Behavioral Group is one of the finest mental health platforms, with the most experienced mental health professionals who have had adequate practice diagnosing symptoms related to depression. So, what’s the wait to get in touch with us today and regain your mental stability.
