So, in the past several weeks I've been noticing severe mood swings during the day. Sometimes it's kind of an all day funk, and other times I get really angry really fast; a cocktail of negative emotions.
Now, I hear that my family has a history of depression or at least bipolar because my aunt has it, but I don't want to be quick to cite that as a possible cause. Why? Dunno at this point, but for the purposes of this thread...
One of my friends mentioned sleep and asked how I was doing sleep wise. He said it might be a weird mix of seratonin and melatonin craziness. I asked why it would be crazy.
I've been going to bed at dawn and waking up after noon and he said that because I'm trying to sleep but there's light coming into my room, my body is producing the wrong chemical for the wrong time. My sleep isn't as deep or restful..blah blah.
What does the Hatrack Collective think about all this?
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Sleep disorders can definitely contribute to mood disorders. You need to get enough sleep, but also sleeping when it's dark is much better for your brain. Getting outside during the day for at least one hour a day can do wonders for sleep disorders too! Good luck figuring it out and fixing it, whatever is causing it! Posted by BaoQingTian (Member # 8775) on :
For what it's worth, I've read the same thing about melatonin-that it's a hormone that's production depends on the level of light your eye perceives. If I remember right, low light levels start the hormone. I know there are supplements of it you can take, but I'd be wary of those.
Do what Tatiana said....try to get some sunlight at one point. Then inside the house try to go to a dark room settle down for an hour or two before sleep. And if you can do anything about it, try to get closer to 8 hours of sleep rather than just 5 or 6.
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
Call your doctor, that's the easiest thing to do.
Posted by Sharpie (Member # 482) on :
I'd agree: call your doctor. Make sure that he/she knows about the family history.
I have a teenager with bipolar disorder. Sleep disorders can be a part. Moodiness can be a part. But both things can be a part of, well, being a human. Let your doctor help you figure out which it is .
Posted by The Pixiest (Member # 1863) on :
I find when I go to bed early and wake up feeling rested I'm in a generally cheery mood.
The later I stay up, the grumpier and more depressed I get. Everything I have to do is an incredible burden. Everything creative I do is absolute crap. It's almost always better the next day.... Unless I sleep in too late.
Early to Bed and Early to Rise is good advice.
Pix
Posted by Evie3217 (Member # 5426) on :
I have the same problem Earendil. I've suffered from depression for a while now, and I've noticed that my sleep affects my mood and my mood affects my sleep. When your body gets out of whack it affects all aspects of your life. I would agree, talk to you doctor. It looks like your sleep cycle is off.
If you want to talk to someone who's gone through the same thing you're going through, just let me know. My sn is the same as my name here.
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
I sleep in, but I generally try to go to bed by 3-4am and wake up before noon. So I have a similar schedule to yours. I've found it helps a lot to have dark curtains.
Of course, my natural response when I become extremely moody or upset is to take a nap. It usually seems to reset my moods, so I feel a lot better.
-pH
Posted by Earendil18 (Member # 3180) on :
Mmm, I usually take naps when I'm crabby, but when a person get's up at 2 in the afternoon...
We have Venetian blinds that allow wayyy to much light to bleed into the room. Maybe cardboard...ah but I'm moving out soon anyway.
Thanks for your thoughts guys the "sit in a dark room" idea is a good one that I've actually heard before so I'm going to try it out.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)