Many depressed people complain of insomnia without recognizing that they are depressed. If you have lost interest in activities you used to enjoy or if you have feelings of hopelessness or suicidal thoughts, your sleep problems may be a result of depression. Discuss the problem with your physician, who may recommend mental health counseling. When the depression is treated, the accompanying sleep problems usually disappear. Insomnia is a complex problem, not given to simple solutions.
Most experts agree that the following are the first steps to obtaining better sleep.
Exercise in the morning also has little beneficial effect on sleep. The best time to exercise is in the afternoon. Daytime naps Daytime naps tend to disrupt normal nighttime sleep. Naps should not be used as a substitute for poor sleep at night. However, if you nap regularly and sleep poorly at night, your nighttime sleep might improve if you skip the naps.