What to do about insomnia caused by mild depression?

Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
Updated on September 05, 2024
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Patients with mild depression who experience insomnia symptoms can partly manage this through self-adjustment. For example, they can improve insomnia through exercise, especially two hours before bedtime, with medium intensity exercises to expend excess energy and ultimately achieve comprehensive muscle relaxation, leading to good sleeping habits. Additionally, in the treatment of mild depression, sedative antidepressants such as paroxetine, fluvoxamine, mirtazapine, and trazodone can be used, sometimes including tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline, which have been very satisfactory in their effects. Therefore, clinically, for insomnia in mild depression, both pharmacological treatment and self-adjustment methods can be adopted.

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Does mild depression affect pregnancy?

"[Generally, mild depression does not affect the ability to become pregnant normally, but it is not recommended to take medication during pregnancy, as some medications can affect the normal development of the fetus, even impacting the baby's brain development. If mild depression can be managed through psychological adjustment, that is best; it's important not to use medication lightly. In daily life, family and friends should also provide psychological comfort to the pregnant woman, helping her to safely get through the pregnancy. However, if mild depression is not treated effectively and timely, it can impact the entire pregnancy.]"

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How to treat geriatric depression effectively?

Elderly depression should be treated comprehensively. Firstly, it is important to enhance the diet and supplement nutrition. Secondly, through psychotherapy, mainly to alleviate or relieve symptoms, improve patients' compliance with drug treatment, and reduce or eliminate the adverse consequences of the disease. Thirdly, pharmacotherapy can involve the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, selective serotonin, and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, which are widely used in the treatment of elderly patients with depression. Fourth, modified electroconvulsive therapy is an option. Through the aforementioned comprehensive treatment, the clinical symptoms of depression can be improved. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a physician.)

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The difference between a depressive episode and depression

Depressive episodes and depression refer to the same condition; depressive episodes are also known as depression. Especially clinically, when patients experience depressive episodes, they mainly exhibit low mood, slow thinking, lack of interest and pleasure, diminished will and activity, overall subdued emotional state, sluggish and blank brain responses, lack of interest in daily life, and importantly, an inability to feel pleasure or control. Patients often feel passive, lethargic, and lack anticipation for future life. They typically experience decreased appetite, sleep disturbances, reduced sexual function, and fatigue. Patients frequently describe themselves as incapable, useless, incompetent, and hopeless, leading to low self-esteem and self-blame significantly contributes to their issues. They also feel like a burden to society, and thus, severe cases may include suicidal thoughts and behaviors, which are relatively common symptoms in clinical settings.

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Dietary Cautions for Geriatric Depression

Patients with geriatric depression currently find antidepressant medications and electroconvulsive therapy to be quite effective. However, due to lack of appetite and poor mental responsiveness in these patients, their nutritional status often remains unfulfilled. Therefore, we should enhance the dietary nutrition of elderly patients with depression. The focus should be on protein-rich foods such as eggs, shrimp, fish, chicken, and duck. Additionally, attention should be given to including roughage in the diet, ensuring daily fruit intake and vegetables in every meal.

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Is mild depression normal?

Patients with mild depression, although also experiencing symptoms such as low mood, decreased interest, reduced motivation, slow thinking, and reduced volition, may have difficulty falling asleep and frequently wake up during sleep, among other related symptoms. However, patients often retain most of their social functions, causing some disturbance to daily life and work. Through self-adjustment, standardized psychotherapy, and medication, patients often achieve good treatment outcomes. Sometimes, the symptoms of some patients are relatively mild, and they may appear normal outwardly, but their inner experience is indeed pathological. Therefore, it is still necessary to undertake standardized, systematic, and scientific treatment to achieve clinical recovery.