Over the past two weeks, have you felt down, depressed or hopeless?
Over the past two weeks, have you felt little interest or pleasure in doing things?
Scientists on the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended in 2002 that doctors ask these two questions to screen their patients for depression. Since depression may go unrecognized or be misdiagnosed, it can help to know common signs of both depression and other problems that may cause similar symptoms.
Both depression and sleep deprivation can interfere with our ability to think, work, socialize, and enjoy life. Both have a number of symptoms in common. These include lack of energy, difficulty concentrating and making decisions, moody behavior, unusual sleep patterns, loss of interest in activities, as well as weight and appetite changes. In addition, interrupted sleep is very common among people who are depressed. Over 90% of those with depression complain about difficulty falling asleep, frequent nighttime awakenings and early morning awakenings. Others may sleep much more than usual and still feel tired.
Teens need at least 8 1/2 hours--and on average 9 1/4 hours--of sleep each night to function at their best. In addition, biological sleep patterns shift toward later times for both sleeping and waking during adolescence, so it is natural to not be able to fall asleep before 11:00 pm or later. Teens also tend to have irregular sleep patterns across the week–they typically stay up late and sleep in late on the weekends, which can affect their biological clocks and hurt the quality of their sleep. Some teens experience sleep problems such as sleep apnea and insomnia, which keep them from getting the sleep they need. These factors during adolescence can contribute to sleep deprivation in teens, which can greatly impact performance in school and other areas, as well as overall quality of life.
It is normal for teens to have times when they feel tired, sad, moody or have difficulty focusing on school and other important things in their lives. If these feelings linger, intensify and begin to interfere with life at school and at home; however, it may be time to talk with your doctor to find an appropriate treatment.
Symptoms that may indicate depression include:
* feeling persistently sad, anxious, hopeless or empty for several weeks, months or longer
* sleeping more or less than usual
* loss of interest in things you used to like and enjoy
* lack of energy
* weight changes and appetite disturbances
* moodiness
* feeling guilty, helpless or worthless
* difficulty concentrating, remembering things and making decisions
* withdrawal from friends or family
* loss of self-confidence and self-esteem
* irritability and restlessness
* frequent complaints of headaches, stomach aches or other pains
* doing poorly in school
* thoughts of death and suicide
Depression is an illness that involves the body, mood and thoughts. About one out of 12 teenagers suffers from depression before the age of eighteen. Half of the teenagers who go untreated for depression may attempt suicide, which is the third leading cause of death among teens. While it can disrupt life by affecting a person’s ability to function, relate well to others and experience pleasure, it is a treatable illness.
Insomnia & Depression: Are They Related?
The most common sleep disorder related to depression is insomnia. In a Johns Hopkins University study of 1,000 young male medical students, researchers found that insomnia might be a predictive factor for later episodes of severe depression and other types of serious mental disorders. Insomnia is a risk factor for the onset of depression and can significantly affect quality of life. While some studies indicate insomnia as a trigger for depression, insomnia can also show up as symptom once depression occurs. In fact, depression is considered one of the most prevalent causes of insomnia.
Insomnia Symptoms include:
* difficulty falling asleep
* difficulty staying asleep
* waking too early in the morning
* experiencing non-restorative sleep
If teens feel they are experiecing symptoms of depression or a sleep disorder, they should talk to a doctor, and may find it useful to keep a journal of symptoms and sleep patterns to discuss at the appointment.
