The connection between sleep and depression

The hours we sleep every day play a major role in our mental health. A recent study published in the medical journal Jama Psychiatry suggests than even if we go to bed an hour earlier than usual and wake up also an hour earlier, we have a 23% chance of developing depression. According to researchers, each person has a different time pattern when it comes to sleep, which is 42% a gene issue. In short, some people are genetically predetermined to wake up early. According to the research that studied more than 800.000 people, those who wake up early in the morning were less likely to show signs of depression. But it’s not just the genes that matter, it’s our way of life in general. So, in order to protect our precious mental health, we can change our lifestyle in such a way so that we can sleep earlier and also wake up earlier. Early “birds” have greater exposure to sunlight that has been found beneficial to our mood. On the contrary, winter time makes people moody, leading them to experience symptoms of depression due to the shorter days and longer nights. Our society isn’t built for those who sleep late and wake up much later in the day. Most of us have morning jobs, plus the kids are in school also during these hours. This feeling of being a bit out of everything and missing the day can create and exacerbate depressive symptoms. Finally, the time we have for ourselves in the morning when we wake up early, that is, before we start with our daily obligations, is also important for our mental health. Just half an hour in the morning to meditate, exercise, eat our breakfast at peace and drink our coffee without being in any rush can have a positive impact on our psychology for the rest of the day. Seminars Recent Articles