Introduction:
Morning depression is a symptom of diurnal mood variation. In this condition, the person feels very low as soon as they wake up, and then they experience positivity throughout the day once the morning has passed. Depression presents in different ways, but the diurnal mood variation is the hallmark of clinical depression.
What Is Morning Depression?
Morning depression is a characteristic of depression. They have feelings of sadness, loss of pleasure, and low mood. The main additional problem, apart from the normal signs of depression, they find trouble getting out of bed and an extreme lack of energy in the morning. The affected individuals will find their mornings more difficult when compared to the rest of the day. They lack motivation for the rest of their day. These feelings don't lift even after rising from the bed. They try to forget some important actions of the morning such as brushing their teeth, bathing, and eating breakfast. These are the specific signs of these conditions. But contrarily the mood elevates after the morning and the individual will reach a stage where their mood has changed for the better. By the time the afternoon rolls around, they might feel very good compared to the morning. The sign of depression is too high during the morning and they get better throughout the day.
What Are the Causes of Morning Depression?
People with morning depression have variable lows and highs throughout the day. An imbalance in heart rhythm can be a factor. The causes of morning depression are:
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Sleeping Problems - Those who do not have a proper sleep cycle are prone to this. Depression itself can make it very hard to sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is one of the common causes of poor sleep. OSA happens when something blocks the upper airway during sleep. The breath becomes very shallow and the person may stop breathing heavily. The natural sleep cycle is called as circadian rhythm. This rhythm regulates heart rate and body temperature and keeps the mood stable and stay in good health. It affects mood, alertness, and energy levels.
Melatonin is the hormone that induces sleep. The body produces melatonin when the sun sets. The body makes more cortisol in the morning to prepare the body for the day. When the rhythm is disrupted the body makes hormones at the inappropriate time of the day. This leads to a negative effect on physical and mental health. When melatonin is made during the day the person becomes more tired during the daytime.
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Stress Hormones - This hormone increases blood pressure, heart rate, and blood sugar. It is also linked to depression, anxiety, and inability to concentrate.
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Inflammation - High levels of interleukin-6 are found in people with depression and other mental disorders. The interleukin- 6 peaks during the nighttime and early morning.
The other factors include trauma, life events such as a person’s death or divorce, alcoholism, and a family history of depression.
What Are the Signs of Morning Depression?
The signs of depression include:
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Staying asleep for longer hours than expected.
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The desire to eat in the morning goes down. This includes skipping other meals also.
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They like to curl up on the sofa and watch a good movie rather than leave the house.
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They feel they don't contribute anything significant to society which makes them not leave the house. Leaving the house in the morning becomes a battle for them.
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No energy to start the day.
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The feeling of excessive guilt or worthlessness.
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Difficulty in concentration and making decisions.
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Recurrent thoughts of suicide.
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The feeling of restlessness.
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No enjoyment in day-to-day activities.
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Oversleeping and frustrated in the morning in bed.
They find it hard to follow the below activities:
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Doing regular morning tasks.
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Avoiding over-sleeping.
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Waking up in the morning on time.
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Ability to think clearly.
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To develop a sleep hygiene routine.
What Is the Diagnosis of Morning Depression?
Morning depression is not a separate diagnosis from depression and does not have diagnostic criteria. The following questions are asked during the examination:
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The severity of symptoms? Is it decreased or increased?
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Any trouble concentrating?
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Has the daily sleep routine changed?
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Do they have trouble getting out of bed?
What Is the Treatment for Morning Depression?
Some of the treatments are:
Depression makes it hard for anyone to stay awake. Sleep trouble is due to low levels of serotonin. Serotonin is a feel-good hormone that is released in the brain that promotes good quality sleep. The treatment for morning depression is serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as Effexor (venlafaxine) are helpful with morning depression.
1. Getting Quality Sleep- Small shifts in sleep patterns can make a huge difference. The regulation of the sleep cycle can reduce the symptoms of morning depression. The following methods can be followed:
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Eating food at the appropriate times.
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Avoiding substances like caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol.
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Avoiding heavy exercises for four hours before bedtime.
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Refraining from long naps during day time.
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A silent and cool room will promote sleep.
2. Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) - It is a treatment for some mental illnesses. In this procedure, electrical currents are passed through the brain. There are two types of ECT
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Unilateral - One electrode is placed on top of the head and the other is placed on the right temple.
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Bilateral - The electrodes are placed on both sides of the head.
3. Talk Therapy - Cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy treat morning depression. It is a type of psychotherapy where it focuses on target action and behavioral changes required to overcome depression. It involves the development of constructive and balanced ways to respond to stressful situations. It is a coping defense mechanism to recover from challenging conditions. It requires 20 sessions and can continue depending on the case. The therapist identifies patterns of distorted perceptions that are no more useful to the affected person.
4. Light Therapy - Exposure to light has an impact on the hormones and chemicals produced in the body that enhances the mood.
Conclusion:
The doctor or psychiatrist can only help improve the symptoms and give an appropriate treatment. Mental health is greatly influenced by physical health. So maintaining and balanced diet and getting good sleep can affect overall health and performance. Talk therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes help to manage morning depression. A healthy diet and good sleep have a positive impact on mental health. Mindfulness practices such as yoga are helpful in reducing symptoms. Working with a healthcare provider to develop an individualized treatment plan is essential.
