Sleep deprivation for depression is complete or partial sleep deprivation used to treat depression.
Sounds a little strange, right? It is known that sleep problems can provoke depression, and are also its most common symptom (all tests for depression include a question about sleep).
So how can sleep deprivation help a person whose relationship with sleep is already difficult? How does the sleep deprivation mechanism work? And can the effect of sleep deprivation help you?
How does the mechanism of sleep deprivation work in depression?
For a long time, the mechanism of operation of the method was not fully understood. The main working assumption was that sleep deprivation synchronizes the body's circadian processes. Gives them a new common start.
Why is this so important? Because all processes, all human biological systems are subject to circadian rhythms, a kind of biological clock. And if one clock shows “All clear!”, and the other commands “Rise!” - then sleep deprivation can help reset this internal clock.
Have you heard the humorous phrase “To raise you up, but to wake you up, but not to wake you up”? This is roughly what can happen to a depressed person every morning. Your morning depressive drowsiness and apathy may be caused, among other things, by desynchronization of your endocrine system. Some hormones made a person physically wake up, but others are in no hurry to prepare him for a vigorous life. All you have to do is lie down and wait.
