What should you know about depression and difficulty sleeping?

Depression may make it hard to fall asleep, cause repeated waking or lead to waking earlier than planned. Some people instead sleep for long periods but still feel unrefreshed. Worry, changes in routine, alcohol, medicines and conditions such as insomnia, acid reflux or an overactive thyroid can also disturb sleep, so the symptoms do not identify one cause by themselves.

Keep a simple sleep and mood diary, including bedtime, waking, naps, caffeine, alcohol and medicines. Keep a regular wake time, use the bed for sleep rather than prolonged screen use, and get gentle daytime activity if able. Arrange a GP assessment if symptoms persist, affect work or relationships, or make daily tasks difficult. Treatment may address depression, sleep habits and any contributing condition together.

Seek urgent help if you may harm yourself, cannot stay safe, feel detached from reality, or have several nights of almost no sleep with unusually high energy, racing thoughts or risky behaviour. Get prompt medical advice for severe daytime sleepiness, loud snoring with gasping, chest symptoms or breathing difficulty during sleep.

Ask whether your sleep pattern fits depression, insomnia or another condition; whether any medicine could be affecting sleep; and which talking therapy, sleep-focused plan or other treatment would suit you.