Does excessive sleep make your depression worse?

Just wondering because I've been getting 12-13 hrs a night and I feel awful. I basically want to die. I wish I never existed in the first place.

I'm not a danger to myself or others -- I don't have a "plan" -- but my outlook on life is very negative right now. I guess I don't see the point in doing anything these days. Like, "what's the point? I still feel like sh_t no matter what I do."

I know this feeling will eventually pass, but it'll also eventually come back. The fact it'll inevitably return bothers me. It's like you can never escape; you only get temporary relief.

In my experience, yes. Excessive sleep made matters worse. It is also known that too much sleep can actually make a person drowsy during waking hours.

I try not to succumb to hypersomnia. When I am prone to it, I try to stay up until a reasonable hour (not fall asleep at 7 pm) and set the alarm for a reasonable hour (not sleep until 10 am or later). It can be hard forcing oneself up with the alarm, but if I do that, though the first hour or two might be tough, the rest are usually better. Hypersomnia creates a "hangover" feeling in me, which is not pleasant.

I've said this before, but I call this sleep inertia. There's a point where a body at rest wishes to remain at rest. I agree with BirdDancer that setting a sleep schedule is a good idea.

Have you tried exercise over the past few days? I know you live in an apartment and you aren't always comfortable getting out, but the sunshine will help if you're up for a walk. If not, try doing some boxing moves. They engage your core, your legs and your arms and you can do it without making a lot of noise that might disturb your neighbors. You can imagine you're fighting the depression. I find that forcing myself to get up and move frequently helps me when my spirits and my energy are low. Just try a few 10 min intervals throughout the day and see if it helps.

I'm sorry you're feeling this way. I can appreciate how deflating it must feel to know this cycles and you'll be in the same boat again one day. You can see the pattern though and you know it doesn't last. You can focus on working to find better and better coping strategies each time. Maybe think of it like a challenging game of figure out how to kick this depression's *****. Hopefully it will get a bit easier to handle mentally and emotionally each time it cycles.

bluebicycle, I feel it does 100% make depression worse. Yet even knowing this, I still get up early, take care of kids and get them off to school and then head back to bed for a couple hours. I never feel better afterwards. Only feel worse and guilty for not being productive. It's a terrible cycle I know I need to break. Sleeping is a form of escape, at least for me, albeit not a very effective one. I totally understand your pain, as I am very depressed as well. I hope we can both rise above this sooner than later.

this reminded me of sunday mornings.

I used to get really agitated and anxious when people on sundays would sleep in later than usual. I'd say to them why do you do it, why are you wasting the day, etc- I don't know, maybe it's because I don't have that luxury, or maybe it's because I like activity and things stimulating me, but ugg. what ever the reason, that would really annoy me about sundays

as for me, I can't just sit their and rest, I need to be doing something. rest does make me depressed

Thanks for the responses, everyone.

I slept too much last night... again. Now I feel even worse.

I'll try to move around today like you suggested, fern. Not sure how much it'll help, though. I'm having passive suicidal thoughts and stuff, but whatever. I see my therapist tomorrow, so I'll just talk to her about that stuff then -- although I don't want her to hospitalize me, so I can't tell her everything. (I'm not a danger to myself. I just don't want her misinterpreting things.)

I wish I could sleep that much. I try my best to listen to my body. My body knows what is best for me. I sleep when I am tired, I eat when I am hungry. Setting an alarm does help me wake up. Set your alarm an hour later if you need to. Make a plan and stay with it. If your depression causes you pain, be sure to share that with your Dr. My depression causes me a few other problems, which are also treatable with meds and self-care. Could you practice describing your depression?

I hope it helps a little. I know moving about can help with your energy levels, but it also helps fight depression. I've read a number of studies on it. I remember reading about an institution in England that was prescribing exercise as a primary treatment for depression. They were having success with it. There are tons of resources that support it. Here's a quick read on some of the reasons why doctors think it works.

Exercise is an all-natural treatment to fight depression - Harvard Health

I hope your session with your T goes well tomorrow. I know you've been struggling in one way or another for a few weeks now. I remember one of the goals is for her to help you find a new pdoc. I am really hoping that part works out. You need a doctor you can trust.