Do Depressed People Need More Sleep? How To Do Wake Therapy
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- Опубликовано: 14 окт 2024
- Do depressed people need to sleep more? It would seem so, but when a depressed person stays awake, their depression resolves. The problem is it’s very temporary until the person goes back to sleep. Researchers have found that you can prolong the effect of the improvement if you combine sleep deprivation with light therapy.
In this video I show you how to do wake therapy for depression. This therapy has been used for both unipolar and bipolar depression. Although with bipolar depression the studies used lithium therapy along with the sleep deprivation and light therapy. But if at anytime during the therapy you start showing signs of mania like racing thoughts, impulsivity, irritability, you should stop the therapy and call your doctor. The early manic signs may resolve right after stopping the therapy, or you may need an adjustment to your mood stabilizer to get the mania to settle down.
I have guide that you can download that gives step by step instructions. You can download it here: markspsychiatry...
References
Khalifeh AH. The effect of chronotherapy on depressive symptoms. Evidence-based practice. Saudi Med J. 2017;38(5):457-464.
Boland EM. Et al. Meta-AnalysiIts of the Antidepressant Effects of Acute Sleep Deprivation. J Clin Psychiatry 2017;78(8):e1020-e1034
Wirz-Justice, A., Benedetti, F., Berger, M., Lam, R., Martiny, K., Terman, M., & Wu, J. (2005). Chronotherapeutics (light and wake therapy) in affective disorders. Psychological Medicine, 35(7), 939-944.
Horne JA. and O. Ostberg. A self-assessment questionnaire to determine morningness-eveningness in human circadian rhythms. Int J Chronobiol. 1976;4(2):97-110.
Martiny K, Refsgaard E, Lund V, et al. The day-to-day acute effect of wake therapy in patients with major depression using the HAM-D6 as primary outcome measure: results from a randomised controlled trial. PLoS One. 2013;8(6):e67264. Published 2013 Jun 28.
Benedetti F, Riccaboni R, Locatelli C, Poletti S, Dallaspezia S, Colombo C. Rapid treatment response of suicidal symptoms to lithium, sleep deprivation, and light therapy (chronotherapeutics) in drug-resistant bipolar depression. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 2014;75:133-40.
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Dr. Tracey Marks thanks for this video. I have an appointment with my therapist tomorrow and going to talk to him about this. I am super tired during the day and sleep for hours. Sometimes I can sleep for days. But at night I am wide awake and it’s hard for me to sleep. My mind is non stop. It’s super hard and I know it’s taking a toll on my body.
Dr. Tracey Marks even writing the last comment was hard because my mind drifts off. And I tend to forget what I’m writing. It’s like I go into autopilot.
Dr. Tracey Marks she’s an Amazon shopper I like it ! I look forward to your video on seasonal affective disorder preferably before spring.
@@ZombieQueen can I get an amen
Thank you! There are so many options, having these two suggestions really helped!
Yeah because life is too overwhelming to bear so we sleep to escape. It’s really self explanatory 👏🏾
Yeah, but not everyone is the same. Not sleeping makes me feel a lot better. The day is when I always feel the overwhelming hardships of life. In night, I get to be myself in my own room and think of everything while in silence. Obviously, don't do it if you have something to do the next day.
Again, not everybody is the same. Each person has different ways on treating depression.
Yeah sadly
Tru
My husband does that. Does that really work to mellow down emotions? I think I would need more activities.
As someone who is very sensitive to other people and emotions, absolutely it does@@abbywoolfson584
I’ve found that I’ve naturally started doing this when my symptoms are getting bad. It kind of makes sense to me because I study pre Christian civilisations and many of those in the colder parts of Europe (where seasonal depression is a common issue) have midwinter celebrations that involve bright fires and all night vigils.
@Alicia Mison
Interesting info on the ancient European celebrations. Thanks for sharing!
Oooh! That's really cool! Thanks for sharing
This is so interesting! I’d love to learn more
Makes sense!! Ty!!
Sleep is my escape from depression and anxiety. This “therapy” sounds like a nightmare to me. I would literally have to be hospitalized to try this. No way I could do it on my own.
I don't even have to go to the hospital because mt body decides to wake itself up at 2 am and 5 am.
Us
That's why different people are different. Not sleeping helps me feel a lot better. But yeah, don't do it if you have something you have to do the next day, obviously.
@Rafael Dejesus and that's why not everybody is the same. That is imperative for humans.
@rafaeldejesus8199greed. It can literally trigger psychosis. Also being sleep deprived is apparently similar to being drunk. It’s not safe to do things that you wouldn’t while sober. Your executive functioning is worse too.
Anyways, imagine saying to your doctor “Hi can I get some medication to help me stay awake for 36 hours?”. I bet if you ask for medicine for your ADHD like symptoms you'll likely get them easier anyways. I was a night owl in school, and they always wanted me on stimulants for my “sluggishness”.
Wow, perfect timing! Thank you! I've been sleeping too much lately and I'm getting more and more tired by the day.
Good. I hope this helps. let me know
I like the alternative treatment presentation coming from a professional.
Thank you Mochi!
Honestly! This is awesome
I really need my sleep. If I have a good night's sleep, I wake up restored and renewed. In the evening I become fatigued and weary, and I have negative thoughts, but a good night's sleep can make all the difference in my thoughts.
Same.
In a tube of gibberrish motivational videos, this channel is a real gem!
Agreed! Her videos are helping tremendously!
Hi! Mirelly from Brazil typing here! I've just completed the first week cycle, it was hard, but I got it! Before the wake therapy I was going to bed at about 3.00a.m. - 4a.m. and waking up at 2.00p.m. Now, I am able to go to bed earlier and also wake up earlier. Thanks Dr. Marks for the explanation and for the guide! Tomorrow I will start the light therapy at 7am.
How did it go in the end?
Hello, did you finish the wake therapy, and how it worked?
Olá Mirelly. O seu comentário foi encorajador. Eu tenho um ritmo de sono das 3 a.m. às 12h. Você conseguiu corrigir com esse método? Ou desistiu? Obrigada
ok buy why do you have to say that you are from brazil?
@@AnaCruz-ju1im becasue I wanted to.
Wow, sounds like torture, to be honest. I would have no energy to do anything at all...
Me either. 🤪😱
Me either. But since my depression doesnt seem to residing. I'm going to give it a try. There is no harm in trying.. 😊
@@madhuripawar8589 update?
That is torture.
@@madhuripawar8589 How was it, did it work? I have been oversleeping since a few days and i'm afraid if i might be slipping back into depression.
That sounds crazy to me. I am depressed and I also suffer from insomnia. If I dont get much sleep for just one night I feel so tired the next day and two nights in a row and I feel ill the next day. That only adds to my depressions so Wake therapy seems like a nightmare to me.
kernowarty yeah you would need to be off work with no external stress
It's probably not for everyone. Although, it's possible your insomnia is related to anxiety. I'm not a doctor or medical professional, but I'm sure if you were really interested in trying to see if something like this could work for you, your psychiatrist could get you on some sort of anti anxiety medication so when the time to sleep finally came you would be able to. I personally have bipolar and generalized anxiety, and I take anti anxiety meds to help with insomnia and let me sleep. So, just a thought of something your doctor could help with. :)
@@ThebirdmanTrainer Yeah, hello?!? Some of us have to work for a living! I cannot imagine staying up for these time lengths.
@@ThebirdmanTrainer I agree. If you have to do this, commit to it and take time off work and try to prevent any external stressors.
This is not "don't get much sleep" this is DO NOT sleep at all. That's how you reset your brain. It makes a huge difference.
No way! Lack of sleep makes me feel terrible, I'm all sore and extremely depressed.
I definitely prefer sleep therapy :D
When I've had this and slept 10 hrs. And I was on a Trazodone antidepressant for 17yrs for sleep and anxiety, now I'm not on any medication and I'm sleeping 8hrs. And up at 8am. Great!
That’s excellent. Congratulations.
Wow, that’s awesome!!!! I would LOVE to get off my meds.
Sometimes I skip a night’s sleep just to get a boost in my mood. Now I understand why this helps!
This absolutely worked for me. I decided to stay up all night while traveling and surely did not want to sleep when I realized my depression was lifted for that short while!
Oh that's great! Thanks for letting me know. If only the effects lasted longer 🙂
I’m excited to try this!!
I unintentionally did kind of this.
As someone with adhd it was a hard time for me going through the numb depression state when nothing would interest me anymore. My hyperfixations would only be my racing thoughts, analyzing quite everything and discussing ethical issues in the internet. While being tired I also was restless and I really couldn't concentrate on anything. I was bored in a way that it hurt soo bad. I would search for things that kept me invested and made me give emotional response. I eventually discovered a story and for the first time in months I found myself reading. It was kind of a romance thriller haha. It was very long (about 3-4 books), but I was reading online so I don't know for sure. It wasn't even that good but there were enough mysteries that it would keep me invested. I was reading for four days straight with barely sleeping and eating. My racing thoughts stopped for the time I was reading so it felt like a big relief.
After all of this I felt kind of guilty going to my therapist and telling about how I fucked up my sleep schedule even more (I couldn't sleep much during depression), but when I told her about how I really felt better now she looked happy for me and told me about wake therapy. I think it was the combination of actually being able to hyperfixate on something other that myself for the first time in a while and being awake for so long. It helped me with my restlessness and obsessive- compulsive thoughts. Acknowledging my struggles, going to therapy and talking to my loved ones etc. were part of my recovery too but those four days were a big step at once and helped me a lot!
It was like a step out of the circle and being able to actually change something.
I love this!
Perfect treatment during quarantine, a year later. Thank you so much doctor!
Wow i just found your videos.
I want to be mentally strong and stable.
Thank you for your videos
The more aware i can be and understand the easier it is for me
Hi Mary. I'm so glad you found my channel. Better understanding and insight absolutely is helpful. That's why I provide this information. keep watching.🙂
Perfect! I'm off the next three days and took a mini nap during the day. Lets give this wake therapy a shot. I been on a Dr. Tracey Marks video marathon
this entire week and I love it!
I wish I had heard about this decades ago. I've been a hypersomniac ever since I was little, also I've been diagnosed with MDD, dysthymia, PTSD and night terrors. I hope I never fall into that habit again since I started a new combination which seems to be working but I'll always keep this in mind. Thank you so much for the information and keep up the good work
How are you doing now?
Instead of bright light, you can use sunlight ☀️🌞 it works wonder & way more affective
I have a mind that doesn’t stop, so I often have trouble sleeping. I’ll toss and turn for hours, and eventually will give up on falling asleep. I skip 1-2 nights of sleep per week. Watching this video made me realize that my depression does improve on the day after I miss a night of sleep. In the early morning I’ll take either Modafinil or Vyvanse so that I don’t experience fatigue during the day.
Boy , I am jealous. I never had a MD that would describe me both. Even though I have fallen asleep at the wheel or anywhere I am not walking. So tired of risking mine and other’s life. Maybe my state is very backward in the treatment of narcolepsy.
I would keep trying different drs until you get the help you need. I’m sorry that you are going through this. @@allinaday9882
I didn't realize how powerful light therapy was until I bought a large 10,000 lux florescent light box. I started using it recently and I've been waking up naturally at 8am before my alarm. It only took a week for it to totally reverse the hypersomnia symptom, which antidepressants never really helped with.
Today I couldn’t sleep, in the morning I felt like a different person, no depression at all. It was so strange that I linked it with sleep deprivation and found this video. I’d never think insomnia can do something good:)
Very interesting! I've noticed that when I've had bad periods, just staying up all night and create things have had that reset effect.
It's so cool to see your videos get better over time as you relax in front of the camera and put more personality into it. They are always informative, but this one had an extra nice flow I think.
Thanks for noticing that Bellahazard. I keep trying to get better each time I do a set of videos. 🙂
Dont try staying up all night too much or you will get mania. I wouldn't listen to her.
@@catherinewest5609
I don't. As most things, this probably affects people differently. I've never experienced anything as intense as hypomania or mania.
If your sleeping pattern is bad, this is also more effective to fix it in my experience than other ways.
She’s just sharing information. She isn’t advising anyone to do anything. And she does talk about the mania and says to stop if that’s the case. She is a professional. @@catherinewest5609
It's weird to understand why I feel better with less sleep. I went on a schhool trip to China in 2018 and only got 6 hours of sleep a night, but my days were always filled with things to do. When I study after work and have to stay up until 4 AM, I still feel fine after waking up at 8 AM. Though when I sleep too much(10-14 hours) I feel worse.
Thanks doc Tracey I'm bipolar of 26 yrs suffering severe depression...the last 5 yrs has been better but I find I can sleep up to ten hours a nite and feel well rested . In my experience getting a bit extra sleep helps immensely. I work n exercise with my dog and am wakeful and mindful. I find sleep therapeutic. Regards heath.
Hey Dr Tracey, thank for the video. For my whole life I don’t know if I’m depressed or not. I don’t have regular depression effects as defined. I’m a happy, vivid person usually & but I have periods (usually stressful school days) I sleep too much. I didn’t exactly keep record of how long does it last and what’s my average sleep but I can say I’d sleep 12 hours for 6-7 days straight. I have a record of sleeping 18 hours in a day. It can last longer too, like I can break my period for another 5-6 days and keep going like that. If I am stable ( happy social life) I can survive stressful days without falling into long sleeping periods or falling for only few days. I don’t know if I have depression because It’s not constant. But I definately have something. Depression is described as something more serious, but I enjoy life and even during the periods I sleep too much I know that its going to end. But I’m really going insane because of now knowing what it is.
My grandmother probably had a mental disorder ( can be depression ) she died years ago but people in my family used to describe her very long sleeping habits and how she slept for hours in dark - closed curtain rooms. I can relate to her. If it’s genetic, I know where it came from :(
Wow Dr. Tracey. This video help me to understand why I have the sleep this sleep cycle. I work two jobs and one I get off at 215 sometimes at 3 am. The morning job start time is 8:30 am. I purchased a light that slowly give bright light as if the sun was riding. I put this over my bed. I felt different and I also alternate my days to go home and sleep and I felt energized. When I stop using the light I was more tired. I had no idea there could be a connection between the both. I also take seroquil for sleep. I have gained 40 pounds since being on the meds. I asked my doctor if it will be ok that I did not take it everyday. Without giving too much info. There is a medicine adjustment. And I do feel better. But I feel better when working the two jobs alternating the night time job off every other night. To clarify. One of my jobs require I be there everyday. Which I am a special education assistant. And the night job I am a Longshorewoman women. I know two extreme. I did just recently let the school job go full time. So wow I know this was a lot. Your video really put some thing in perspective. But I am working with all my tools as things come up. And listening to my body. Without being obsessed but being mindful at their moment one day at a time.
One Day at a time keep it up
Thank solitary wolves.
I'm glad the video was helpful. you sure have some kind of work schedule though. And yes circle can help with sleep but some people can gain a lot of weight with it. 🙁
This is another incredible video, Dr. Marks. As a provider, I suggest my amazing clients view some of your educational videos. I cannot express how much it means to them (and me) to have the occasional complex topic broken down into bite-size chunks. Thank you. I know this may be pie-in-the-sky, but do you ever offer Zoom consultations or group discussions?
This video helps explain why i feel so nice after i do long experiments that require working around the clock for a few days in a row! How neat.
Thank you so much for telling me that too much sleep is actually bad for my symptom. The only thing I know I’m really trying is alleviating my depression ,and with this knowledge I finally have a reason in my life to get up.
Excellent. :)
I started it today. Next week I'll come back with some feedback.
Ah finally an explanation for what I have already experienced by accident! Thank you Dr Marks for your informative and helpful videos
Psychiatry is so complicated because each person is different. I was in and out of hospital for 12 years and suffered chronic insomnia ( days and days without sleep while in a state of suicidal depression) before an effective medication cocktail was found. I am bipolar and I was so grateful and ever so slowly I got my life back. I am at my best when I sleep 9-10 hours per night. Any less and I begin to have bad anxiety, depressive symptoms or hyper heightened mood. It sucks to have to spend half my life in bed but I'm not complaining. 12 years of insomnia was a fate worse than death. The illness was so severe that I almost died a few times and I lived in a hell of psychic-emotional pain. Now, a lot of sleep along with the medication, means I wake up alert and energetic. I manage to pile a lot of activity in my days. Of course, I don't have children.
This looks similar to how I cope with it. I know for sure that the depression episode is coming (or during the episode, I know it is what it is) when my sleep schedule gets worse and I can't help it. Like yesterday-today, yesterday I was sleeping for 10 hours and woke up in about 10 am, I felt so sleepy and tired during the day so I let myself sleep and fell asleep at 7 pm sleeping until the midnight. I thought I'd continue to sleep after I'd prepare the bed and drink water, but I couldn't at all from then until 5-6 am, so I've just waken up at midday. I've finally remembered that I need to try to stay awake until tomorrow's night to fall asleep as I should (sleep is really important to not fall down deeper into depression, I'm dealing with insomnia, actually, but when it's not the dark episode I'm used to it, when it is, then regulate my sleeping is the number one to do). I try this everytime, yet still every time I forget about it somehow 😂 my poor brain
I didn't know it's a kind of therapy, Dr Tracey
I've found your channel a week ago and I like it so much, it's indeed educational, but what I like the most is you, how kind, calm and sophisticated you are. Thank you for what you're doing!
Thank you for this video. I am basically at my wits end, I am going to look into and try this
Good luck to you. I work 2 jobs and have my schedule so that I am sleep deprived with only 3 or 4 hours sleep for 3 days normal 2 or 3 days and I do sleep for about 14 to 16 hours the other 1 or 2 days depending. I just happen in to this schedule some years ago and I found it made a difference. Also my cycle is nocturnal so I do most the sleep in the day and work back to back 2nd and 3rd shifts.However if something happens to changes my schedule I do tend to have problems. I have never tried the light box , but now I think I will. Try to find what works for you. I hope it helps ❤️
Great. Let me know how it works.
Thank you 😊
Would i use this therapy on work days or when I'm off?
I think this is supposed to be ongoing. But if it affects your work then you can change it. @@heatherbailey250
Great question from Judith.
Dr. Tracey Marks: this video is REALLY IMPORTANT & VALUABLE!
Thank you so much for taking the time to record this video! I just discovered you and can’t wait to explore more of your videos re mental health. 💜
Thank you so much Xandria. I'm so glad you found me.🙂
I don't know how you keep up with so many responses. I really like the way you present information. You were made for this! I stay hungry looking for videos that pertain to me. I'm sure you've heard this before: now I wish you could replicate yourself and be my doctor. I've never had a psychiatrist but tried psychotherapy. My personal relationship of 8 years is all screwed up. They too have issues. What can I do to convince them that therapy could turn things around? I've mentioned it but they don't budge. I thought this was a lifetime commitment. It's very hard to give up.
Thank you so much for videos, thank you for being you. Awesomeness 🙌
This sounds like such an interesting therapy! I'm really interested in trying it! I have bipolar type 2 and deal with long periods of depression that are the main issue in my long term stability. I'll be looking into this and talking to my doctor about if this is something I can try! Thanks!!
ThanK You! Passing this on! I have a sister who has an unhealthy sleep cycle and has passed it on to her son... I am hoping this will help her... She has made sleep her end all or be all, but she never seems to get enough... There are other mental health issues as well, but I hope she can try this and learn to function better... We have all thought she sleeps too much when she does... She will sleep from 1am till 10am or Noon... or 3am till Noon or whatever, but that is alot of sleep... then she will complain about waking up a few times and it is like sleep is a god or unattainable thing... She has never really sought therapy... I have BPD and I find my attitude affects weather I sleep or not... I have nursed babies and you know that comes with that hormone that helps with deep sleep... Anyhow I have found my attitude is more important than sleep to some extent and any situation in life... Not that I always win that battle, but it helps to try! ThanK You Dr Tracey! You are SUCH A BLESSING! I love your videos! I have been working on myself for years and was never diagnosed on paper, only told I would be considered Borderline Bipolar. I only just a few weeks ago started looking up what that meant... I have come so far alone and now am find how I understood myself and retrained my thinking was right, still working and trying, but your videos helped open a door on with 2 other helpful RUclips Doctors! Dr. Romani and Dr. Daniel Fox! Anyhow, I was a preteen or teen when "diagnosed" now I am in my mid 30*s... with kids and a hubby... I grew up in a narcissistic father home... my mother is possibly a personality disorder as well, we are trying to get her diagnosed as she slipped into psychosis last year so bad... but they never got to the underlying cause... my siblings also struggle with I think BPD and some other things as well... we would make a great case study! We even have home videos to show our home life! My husband is also a prime example of to narcissists in a home.... his mother and father... he has some strong traits too, but we are now seeking information for both of us... All thanks to videos like this! P.s. He can actually apologize now... sincerely... His mother, nope... she is very extreme.... I will stop pouring out... Sorry...
I have sleep apnea in addition to depression. It's so bad that even C-PAP machines don't help. I never know if I need sleep or not because I feel tired and uninspired all my waking hours. I know that REM sleep allows the body to heal and the mind to process trauma. I'm concerned about missing too much sleep although years ago when I was a drug addict I 'd often go three days without sleeping and I was happier than ever. Confusing quandary.
You'll find a solution bud. Don't give up on it.
Me too
Not for me, but I could definitely increase my exposure to light, which may help me sleep less during the day. Thanks for sharing this. I’ve never heard of this treatment before.
I am so going to try this.
Back in high school days 2014/15 there i used to wake up and no matter how i felt inside or the environment i kept feeling like my brain is still asleep. (Didn't know i had Bipolar 2)
One day i was electrocuted, more like shocked and all lights went on and i did this for sometime.
I still feel cloudy when i'm off the hypomania parts of this and try to wake up with intense work outs. I hope this and what i've been doing works.
Dr. Mark You've been heaven sent since i found your channel earlier this year. God Bless you in 1000 folds for the very needed help and information you share with people like me who really need it.
Wow! I love that this is a non-medicinal approach we can try at home! thank you Dr. Marks!
You’re welcome Jordan 😊
This is very interesting. Been dealing with depression for years and I’m always willing to try but you are right in saying that some people would need to get over practical obstacles to do this. I think Im in that category. Can you make a video on how depression can make your limbs and face heavy or numb. And my speech gets affected as well. Idk if it’s the depression that’s why I’m writing to you.
while i was recovering from my bout of depression, i would sleep for 10-11 hours at a time, which helped me feel better because i also felt very sick at the time, but now that i'm better i usually only sleep for 6-8 hours. not sure why, but it's interesting how your body can change and adapt like that.
Thanks, you've just confirmed excessive sleep causes anxiety a depression symptoms to worsen. I couldn't do wake therapy 😩 I need to just stay up as late as possible and sleep for six hours 😴 😁
Tracey you are amazing! I have seen several of your videos and learn so much! Thank you
FASCINATING. I've never heard of this application of light therapy. I've heard of light therapy for seasonal depression disorder, but nothing else. I even have a lightbox with full spectrum bulb, but I use it in late December, January and February when the daylight is short and nights are long (also for 20-30 minutes upon waking).
Thank you so much! I think I'm starting to nerd-out on your videos. lol I get a little giddy when I learn something really new to me. {SUBSCRIBED}
Hi le th! Thanks a lot for subscribing. You can tell a person who likes to learn when you get excited from learning something new. That's great I hope I can teach you some more new things.
Very interesting topic. But i didnt understand how many times do you need to repeat the 2 week cycle? Or is it just once?
Thank you very much. 😊
Thank You Dr. Tracey! Appreciate your work and your smooth delivery of information. Very helpful.
I absolutely get the motive behind the question. Emotionally/mentally, I always feel like I need more sleep. I just feel too drained, too weak to make it through the day. But whenever I do stay in bed longer and get more hours of sleep, my mental state isn't at its best as soon as I get up.
But whenever I'm forced to get out of bed earlier (appointments etc.), only the first hour is tough and the rest of the day, my mood is really good and I have much more energy to make it through the day.
To be perfectly honest, I have been doing this in cycles for over a month (just now seeing this video). I know rest is important for us. But I also know that with major depression, even 1 or 2 good days make it worth it for me
The relationship between sleep and mood is so intrinsic yet difficult to unpick 😐 I've tended to think that feeling tired means you need to sleep more... the trouble is that that sleep doesn't have the restorative effect one would hope it would.
Some years ago I went away for a ten day walking holiday in Spain (the Camino de Compostela). Sleeping in dorms, having to get up early with no excuses - even if you'd not slept a wink because of people snoring all night in the dorm. It sounds horrendous for someone who tends to be somewhat precious about getting enough sleep but actually having a regular routine, physical exercise, stimulation from having to interact with people etc all combined to make me feel so much better when I got back. Of course I slipped back into old ways but if I'd continued on the Camino regime for another month or so I'm sure my sleep patterns would have continued to improve. Partly I think it's having the discipline to continue with a modality that is tough to persevere with and feels somewhat counterintuitive; if you can tough it out I think it can be worth the initial discomfort.
Maybe I'll given this wake therapy a try. Not heard of it before now so will read up...
I'm going to try this tonight. Over the past few months, I've noticed that the days that I wake up at 4 am are great, but the days when I sleep till 7/8 am are trash. This never made sense since I thought I needed more sleep, but it may be related to this. I never had depression, but after child #2, the depression hit pretty hard.
It is very insightful to listen to your Utube video. I love learning about the brain.
Thanks so much for addressing this. My sleep has been a struggle for me since I started anti depressant medication. I’m not sure I’m up to doing this therapy lol, but at least I know now that there’s brain chemistry involved and it’s not a failure of mine. Will definitely try the light therapy in the morning, though
Yeah it definitely takes some work behind it. It’s not a passive intervention.😊 The light therapy in the morning even without the sleep deprivation could still be helpful. I put some links to two lights I have used in a pinned comment.
This is fascinating, I’ve never heard of this therapy before.
Interesting. I'm on antidepressants and I have been diagnosed with depression but it was more like a 'general' diagnosis.
I tend to sleep ~18h and even then force myself to get up because I'm wasting my life. I lost all routine, am annoyed to brush my teeth, go outside...damn. I just get lost in the nothingness of sleep. But I will break this cycle, God knows I'm trying lol.
WOW. this is all new information. Thank you!
I love the information here. Very helpful, thank you doctor.
This was very eye-opening (pun intended) presentation, so thank you for sharing this info. Would wake therapy work if you're trying to be a very early riser? I would like to have a regular wake-up time between 4 and 5 am.
I had heard or read somewhere that people with mental illnesses are more likely to be “night owls.” It is true for me, even when I was quite young, before I was ever diagnosed, I gravitated to staying up very late or into the wee hours, then sleeping quite late. Now I’m totally upside down. :-/
Wow this was great. Never heard of this, but as my depression (I think) came after working abroad and having my rhythms mess up, I think this could really help me. As I'm on the way out of my depressive symptoms, I think I'll give this a go.
I love your videos! I work nights 3 shifts and 12 hours long than 2 nights off and then 2 more shifts then I get a weekend off. I work as a RN on a high stress floor. Yikes I know. Add my bi polar 2 and I would love your advice on a cycle that might work for me to try. Thank you, melly
Thanks i fit your description of someone this may help, i might try this out thanks again - love your work
I'm really glad I stumbled upon this channel; very interesting and helpful. I'd like to ask about your opinion on using EMDR therapy for treating anxiety and depression.
Hi Amanda. I don't do EMDR so I don't know if therapists have expanded the use to anxiety and depression. The patients who I have referred for EMDR are all had some kind of trauma issue. But since it decreases hyperreactivity, I can see how it may be helpful for anxiety.
Thank you SO much for this video.
I didn’t know about this topic and it was very enlightening (speaking of which!) 😜
Thank you for this information. I would like to give this a try. I don't have a light box so plan to try it without. How often does Week 1 schedule need to be completed? Thank you!
Thank you Dr Tracey. I was diagnosed with BPD and been advised by GP for years to take anti depressants which I feel very uncomfortable doing, so I have not. I work out regularly, however I find when away from training (gym) I go back into a depressive mood swings more often when leading to my period, which only gives me 1 week feeling normal in 1 month, were I am feeling sad doing normal things. I will try the therapy lamp, hopefully this will aid these impulsive mood swings.
Wake therapy? I did not know this. Amen!!!
Great advice and WELL SPOKEN. We all find ourselves on strange highways from time to time but STAY STRONG everyone
Thank you Jason!
bright lights... well that ended before it started. ive been up for several days in a row before. plus bright lights are a trigger for me
I'll be adding light therapy!! Great info!!
Holy guacamole! If you stay up 24 hours that can help your depression?
It's funny because I already kind of knew that, but I didn't realize that I knew it.
Does that make any sense?I've already been doing wake therapy(obviously my own version of it) now and then for years but I didn't realize why I was doing it? I have to be very careful with it, I can easily fall into hypomania. Wow this is blowing me away right now. I've been staying awake all day and night now and again for years to purposely help my depression and make me feel more awake, I never knew why I did it until just now.
I'm really starting to like this channel.
I'm going to talk to my psychologist about this tomorrow, but I already know that she's going to tell me not to do it. My antidepressant mood stabilizers and anti-anxiety medications are working pretty good right now.
So you discovered that this is a thing all on your own. Bravo. I’m glad it helped you.
Love that you shared this and the video! These types of videos bring awareness that is needed so much and they make a difference! Found inspiration here for my channel and vids! All the support!
Crazy, I stayed awake yesterday and went to work kinda almost felt like a natural high. Really felt to tired to overthink everything lol I did it on accident. Wake therapy was a treatment
Hey! I wanted to say thanks so much for your videos👏👏 they are so helpful!😊 thanks so much you are amazing!😘
You’re welcome Gabrielle. Thanks so much for watching.
Sue here: love how you speak/teach. !!!
This is interesting. I suffer from a continual mild depression and this must be why I always feel better when I have insomnia for a day or two. Although if I go to many nights with little sleep I become extremely anxious.
That is interesting JayTee. with this protocol is limited to 36 hours. I'm not surprised that more than a night or two would make you anxious.
I've tried staying awake for 24 hours straight. It actually helped my depression, though only temporarily. It was pretty bad again the next day.
Thank you Matthew. You’re an example of exactly what happens. That’s why this therapy was devised to help extend that benefit.
@@laurieb9053 - same thing here caused by w/d from long term benzos. 0-2 hrs. per night sleep for a year, then 3-4 hrs. for another year of w/d. Now been off benzos another whole year, still at 3-4 hrs. sleep per night, tried light and so many other things, but finally found something that is helping...ashwagandha 450 mgs. twice daily has me up to 5-6 hrs. a night and longer times between awakenings, as much as 4 hrs. at once.
Hi Dr, I'm on Lithium 1500mg and Serequol 300mg and as you have mentioned, they are both Dopamine blockers. My question is do I actually have any Dopamine at all entering my system? I haven't laughed or smiled in years and I could sit down watch a comedy show without even cracking a smile. Tnks 😔
Thank you doctor you give me hope you keep me going
Hi Dr Marks! Love u videos as you know and how you cover so many different things for us all! This wouldn't work for me as I have depression, anxiety and insomnia and take meds for all 3 but I like the idea. I know for my self I have to stay busy at all times if not my anxiety takes over! I m exhausted all the time but I have to stay busy to survive.. thank you as always for being so helpful!!
You're welcome Rhonda. Yes this doesn't work as well for the depressed person who sleeps fitfully hardly at all. This is for the depressed person whose sleeping most of the day and still tired.
Thanks, Dr., for your opinion.
You’re welcome 😊
Dr. Marks I like the way you explain stuff so thoroughly and you try to come up with plans to help people without it always big 5 more pills
Thanks Rodney. I’m glad the video was helpful.
Do what the living do and live do what the dead do an die simple always look for the light it's a mindset if somebody has done you wrong that will put you in the dark you must get out or it will kill you it's normal to be devastated when something bad happens to you but please do not stay in the dark life is in the light it always has been
i tend to be more sensitive when i lack of sleep and that's give me more stress.....
This is most helpful for the person who gets depressed and oversleeps. There are people who sleep 10 to 12 hours when they're depressed and still wake up feeling very tired.
@@DrTraceyMarks oh. So if I have depression with lack of sleep (6 hours a day), this option probably wouldn't work out for me? Occasionally I can get 8 hours of sleep and then I feel better
I think not feeling to sleep is a pre-condition to be really able to not sleep... Anyway, it really works for me quite good!
I feel more awake at night and get tired when the sun comes up. This was why i always had trouble falling asleep when i was little but i could fall asleep on my couch during the day 🤦♂️
as someone who strongly suspects they have depression and as a result is REALLY struggling with sleep maintainence insomnia at the moment this sounds like actual torture to me. I was awake the entire night last week (absolutely not through choice) and fainted the next morning for the first time in my life and in the shower of all places. I can sort of understand the principle but it just doesn't feel like a safe way to treat it if the person has insomnia as one of their symptoms. I feel exhausted enough i don't see how depriving myself of even more sleep plus a bright light would cause me anything other than a migraine, extreme nausea, even more tiredness and a possible concussion in the shower. I appreciate the theory but it's a solid nope from me.
As usual very informative ❗️
Thank you John!
Very interesting 👌. I'd love to hear you do something on depression and addiction/self medication Dr. Marks. Maybe a series? For the individual and their loved ones?
Hi Genevieve. Thanks for the suggestion. i’m not the right person to do an addiction series. I don’t do much addiction work and usually refer people out to specialist for that.
I used to do that in my teens alllll the time for untreated depression and I had no idea why or that this worked.
I'm awake at 3-4am anyway. I may try this one. I'll sit in front of the light while watching.
Thanks for this, Tracey.
Wow never heard of this If done correct on average what can I expect to relieve my depression ?? Tks We need more Psych Dr like this one