Everyone needs a sufficient amount of rest each day. While the National Sleep Foundation recommends between seven to nine hours of sleep, the organization warns against sleeping more than the recommended amount. There is a strong correlation between oversleeping and other health issues like diabetes and morbidity. Oversleeping can also be a sign of other illnesses like depression. While depression can cause insomnia, it can also cause you to sleep too much. Approximately 15 percent of people with depression report oversleeping. Even after getting additional sleep, you will never feel completely refreshed.
Stress and Depression
Stress can have a short-term effect on sleeping habits. Daily stress can cause you to be overly tired at the end of the day, experience difficulty falling asleep and oversleep in the morning. The Mayo Clinic also associates atypical depression and oversleeping. Depression robs you of your will to get of bed. You may also feel fatigued and have a difficult time waking up. Feelings of anxiety and depression can cause a lack of motivation and a desire to oversleep as a way to avoid challenging issues in your life. Bleak thoughts may cause your mood to sink even lower, which worsens the relentless cycle.
Sides Effects of Oversleeping
While oversleeping does not cause diabetes, studies have shown that those who sleep more than nine hours are 50 percent more likely to show symptoms of the disease. Sleeping too much means that there is less time to burn off energy, which increases the amount stored as fat and your risk for obesity. Oversleeping may also create bad feelings that you wasted time in bed rather than being more productive. Medical research has shown that too much sleep causes your body to express genes associated with depression. Poor health, body shape and a feeling of a lack of control over your life can create a negative self-image that increases depression. Getting the right amount of sleep may keep depression-related chemicals in your body at bay and make you feel better emotionally.
Speak with a Health Care Professional
Proper sleep is important to the recovery process. It is essential for physical, mental and emotional well-being. People with depression often develop sleep disturbances and respond more slowly to treatment. There is also a risk of depression reoccurring. It is important that individuals who are oversleeping and feel depressed seek qualified medical advice for the treatment of these symptoms. During the appointment, the medical provider will offer guidance based on your individual circumstances.
