This article is a translation of the following Japanese article:
Original: 朝方に目が覚めるのはうつのサイン？｜早朝覚醒とうつ・ストレスの深い関係
“I wake up long before the alarm clock”
“I should be able to sleep still, but my mind feels sharp”
“I feel heavy in the morning”
If this condition continues,
Many people may become worried, thinking, “Maybe I am depressed?”
In conclusion,
👉 Waking up early in the morning does not necessarily mean depression.
However, it is also true that it is one of the common signs of depression.
Author
“What is important is not the waking up itself, but the subsequent state of mind and body.”
What is “early morning awakening”?
Medically,
- Wake up more than 2 hours earlierthan planned
- Afterwards Can’t sleep again
The condition is called early morning awakening.
This is a type of insomnia that can be associated with
depression and high stress conditions.
Why is it easier to wake up in the morning when depressed
✔ Disturbance of autonomic nerves and hormones
In depression,
- Autonomic nervous system switching does not work properly
- Stress hormone (cortisol) is secreted in excess in the morning
Sometimes.
As a result,
- My body is tired
- But only the brain is awakened
This creates an unbalanced state that makes it easier to wake up in the morning.
✔ Characteristic that “morning is the hardest”
Characteristics of depression are:
- I feel the most depressed in the morning
- It gets a little easier in the evening
A diurnal variation is known.
For this reason,
- Wake up early in the morning
- I can’t stop thinking
- Unable to fall back asleep due to heavy mood
The flow is more likely to occur.
Author
“Mornings are hard” is not a problem of will or personality.
Why waking up in the morning does not mean depression
It’s important to note that there are
many reasons for waking up early.
✔ Common causes other than depression
- Disturbance of life rhythm
- Changes in sleep structure due to aging
- Stress/anxiety
- Staying up late/Smartphone habits
- Frequent urination at night
- Anapnea during sleep syndrome
Even with these
morning awakenings occur.
✔ Often a temporary stress response
- Work pressure
- Family worries
- Changes in the environment
Sometimes,
I may temporarily wake up early in the morning.
In this case,
It often improves naturally when the stress is reduced.
Author
“You don’t have to immediately conclude that “waking up early in the morning = depression””
Signs you should consider the possibility of depression
If the following conditions
continue almost every day for more than two weeks,
it is worth consulting a specialist.
- Woke up early in the morning and couldn’t go back to sleep
- Feeling depressed all day long
- No matter what I do, I don’t have fun
- Lack of appetite or overeating
- Strong fatigue/lethargy
- I can’t stop blaming myself
This also overlaps with the
American Psychiatric Association’s diagnostic criteria (DSM).
“How you feel the moment you wake up in the morning” is an important hint
The problem with waking up in the morning is
the state “after” waking up.
Patterns to watch out for
- My head is full of anxiety and hopelessness
- I feel palpitations when I think about today
- I don’t have the energy to get out of bed
Patterns with relatively few concerns
- I wake up but feel normal
- I can go back to sleep after going to the bathroom
- Stay healthy during the day
Author
“It is important to look at sleep quality and mood as a set”
Self-check you can do
Please take a quick look back.
- How do you feel the moment you wake up in the morning?
- Is there time to enjoy during the day?
- Do you feel like you can’t sleep even though you’re tired?
- Do you wake up early on holidays as well?
These can help you discern whether it is
just a sleep problem or a mental disorder.
It is important not to force yourself to “sleep”
When I woke up early in the morning,
- “I can’t sleep again…”
- “No, you might be depressed.”
The more you think about it,
the more your brain becomes awake.
- Avoid bright light
- Lie down quietly
- Relax your body even if you can’t sleep
Even just
will lighten the burden on your mind and body.
Consulting is not a weakness
Psychotherapy, internal medicine, psychiatry, sleep external medicine,
- Where to determine the diagnosis
- A place to give medicine immediately
Not.
“It’s hard to wake up in the morning”
That alone is
enough reason to seek advice.
Author
“The earlier you talk, the more options you have for recovery.”
Summary | Waking up in the morning is a message from the mind and body
✨ Waking up early in the morning does not necessarily mean depression
✨ However, it is one of the common signs of depression
✨ “Mood state” and “how long it lasts” are important
✨ If you are anxious, you can consult a specialist
Author
“Difficulty is noticeable in the morning because it is the beginning of the day.
But it is also a good sign to ask for help.”
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