Have you noticed that you feel more depressed in the morning rather than in the afternoon or evening? If so, you may be affected by a depressive mood disorder such as morning depression. Morning depression or morning sadness was once an official clinical diagnosis but is now considered a symptom of depression.

A professional assessment of your sleeping habits and the fluctuation in your moods throughout the day can determine if you’re suffering from morning depression. In addition, your doctor or mental health professional can help make adjustments to areas of your life that may be contributing factors to your symptoms.

Therapy, medication, or simple lifestyle changes such as diet or exercise, can be effective in lessening the severity of morning depression symptoms. Whether or not you’ve been given a professional depression diagnosis, it’s important to seek professional support if you’re more noticeably depressed in the morning than other parts of the day. 

Bayview Recovery is Washington’s premier rehab and wellness center located in Tacoma. Bayview’s mental health center compassionately commits to providing personalized care by offering various proven medical and therapeutic depression treatment options. Call Bayview Recovery today at 855.478.3650 to learn more about our effective depression treatment care.

Depressed in the Morning?

The reason why depression can frequently occur more severely in the morning rather than other parts of the day remains largely unknown although there are known indicators that certainly contribute to symptoms.

A disruption in the circadian rhythm, your body’s natural clock, could be one major influence on morning depression. The circadian rhythm regulates everything from body temperature to hormone rhythm. A dysfunctional hormone rhythm, for example, may not produce melatonin at night, the hormone responsible for preparing the body for sleep. Consequently, interference with restful sleep can greatly impact physical and mental well-being. A disrupted sleep cycle is a symptom of morning depression along with others like:

• A debilitating lack of energy in the morning
• Brain fog
• Inability to perform simple tasks in your routine
• Feelings of emptiness
• Extreme agitation
• Lack of motivation 

Morning Depression Treatment

Fortunately, morning depression is treatable like other symptoms of depression. Depending on your specific needs, treatment options can vary. Consulting with an excellent healthcare provider, like any member of our qualified staff at Bayview Recovery, can help make sense of morning depression. Furthermore, effective treatment help you to manage it.

Become involved in a comprehensive treatment program in order to improve the quality of your life. Morning depression treatment, along with some simple lifestyle changes, can change your feelings about mornings. Lifestyle changes to implement into your routine today include:

•  Exercise: Regular physical activity helps regulate mood. Be sure to limit physical activity in the hours leading up to bedtime as it can be naturally stimulating. 
• Stick to a schedule: Waking up and going to bed at a set time can help regulate your sleep cycle.
• Avoid naps: Sleeping at any time during the day can cause difficulty in falling asleep at night. As mentioned above, a healthy sleep cycle is important to your well-being.
• Lights: Avoid staring at a television, cell phone, or computer screen light for long periods. This overstimulates the brain. Try to avoid any screen light an hour before bed to encourage restful sleep. A quiet environment with no audio or visual distractions can make falling and staying asleep easier.
• Diet: Certain foods can make it easier or harder to fall asleep. Focus on eating foods that will help promote better rest for you. 

Morning Depression Treatment at Bayview’s Mental Health Center

It’s entirely possible to effectively manage morning depression and the symptoms associated with it. Waking up shouldn’t be unbearable, Bayview Recovery can help you achieve better mornings. We offer several exceptional depression treatment modalities that can help make a huge difference in the quality of your life. By calling 855.478.3650, one of our staff will guide you through the steps in getting life-changing care or answer any questions you have about Bayview’s mental health center.