Can mental health disorders be caused be a sleep disorder or is the sleep disorder caused by the mental health

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Can depression or anxiety be caused by a sleep disorder (specifically Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder) or is the sleep disorder caused by the depression and anxiety? Or can it be either?
It can be either. We don't always know what comes first-the chicken or the egg, so to speak-what we know is that there is a relationship. Serotonin is produced during sleep, so a disruption in sleep would affect serotonin levels and this could result in depression, particularly if the disruption was long term. Sleep disturbances are a hallmark of depression and could lead to a sleep disorder resulting from chronic insomnia. That's why good sleep hygiene practices are so important in managing depression and why shift-work can exacerbate mental health issues in many people, especially those who are predisposed.  (+ info)

How can I correct my circadian rhythm?

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I go to bed at 5 in the morning and sleep until the early afternoon hours. What can I do so that I might start going to bed at midnight and getting up at 9?

Please do not suggest light therapy or medication. I do not have the funds or means to use these methods.

Links would be great if you can provide them.
if you have time to do it go to bed a little earlyer each day and with each paseing day you should wake up earlyer and within a week or 2 you might be aboul to get your body clock ajusted. my body clock agusts easy so its not hard for me i go to bed think about what time i should wake up and presto i wake up at that time handy for me  (+ info)

Sleep Disorders?

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What does sleep disorders actually mean? Is insomnia a sleep disorder? I know like sleep apnea and things are but insomnia, can this not be solved be changing thoughts and so on?

Thanks
Insomnia can be attributed to many things, worry, anxiety, stress, eating too late or not enough, generally not feeling relaxed and even sleeping to late in the morning.

Insomnia can be caused by any of the above or it can be that the individual doesn't need as much sleep as the average person.

Yes it will be included under the sleep disorder umbrella.  (+ info)

Sleep aid to reset circadian rhythm?

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How long can you take something like Tylenol PM (i.e. how many consecutive nights) for it to remain effective and safe?
I can NOT remain on a consistent sleep schedule to save my own life. It doesn't matter what time I got up in the morning; it doesn't matter if I resisted a nap...absolutely nothing natural works in getting myself to sleep before midnight. I try everything physical (hot shower, getting into bed, only using bed for sleep, etc etc etc blah blah BLAH), but my mind stays busy. I have to be on the verge of collapse to fall asleep, which doesn't happen unless I'm ridiculously sleep deprived or using a sleep aid. After today: waking up at 6:15am, working out, going to work at 8, getting home at 2, maintaining a full schedule of activities until attempting to wind down at 10:30, yet still being awake now at 3am, I'm wondering if I need some help with it. Could I take a sleep aid at 9pm every night until my body recognizes that dark=sleep the way it's supposed to? Would it interfere with the stimulant medication I take in the morning for ADHD? I did indeed have this problem prior to beginning the stimulants (which I wonder if I could manage without if I found the means to sleep consistently every night). I don't even take the full two-pill dosage of the sleep stuff as it makes me groggy in the morning. Would this be safe if it were only for a week or two?
In my experience, over the counter sleeps aids do not help in establishing a better sleep pattern. Actually I think they made it worse for me.

I would bring this up with your doctor if I were you.  (+ info)

sleep disorders?

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what is the name of the sleep disorder where u can only sleep a few hours a night, even tho you are really tired?
What Happens During Sleep?
You don't notice it, of course, but while you're asleep, your brain is still active. As people sleep, their brains pass through five stages of sleep. Together, stages 1, 2, 3, 4, and REM (rapid eye movement) sleep make up a sleep cycle. One complete sleep cycle lasts about 90 to 100 minutes. So during an average night's sleep, a person will experience about four or five cycles of sleep.

Stages 1 and 2 are periods of light sleep from which a person can easily be awakened. During these stages, eye movements slow down and eventually stop, heart and breathing rates slow down, and body temperature decreases. Stages 3 and 4 are deep sleep stages. It's more difficult to awaken someone during these stages, and when awakened, a person will often feel groggy and disoriented for a few minutes. Stages 3 and 4 are the most refreshing of the sleep stages — it is this type of sleep that we crave when we are very tired.

The final stage of the sleep cycle is known as REM sleep because of the rapid eye movements that occur during this stage. During REM sleep, other physical changes take place — breathing becomes rapid, the heart beats faster, and the limb muscles don't move. This is the stage of sleep when a person has the most vivid dreams.

Why Do Teens Have Trouble Sleeping?
Research shows that teens need 8½ to more than 9 hours of sleep a night. You don't need to be a math whiz to figure out that if you wake up for school at 6:00 AM, you'd have to go to bed at 9:00 PM to reach the 9-hour mark. Studies have found that many teens, like Garrett, have trouble falling asleep that early, though. It's not because they don't want to sleep. It's because their brains naturally work on later schedules and aren't ready for bed.

During adolescence, the body's circadian rhythm (sort of like an internal biological clock) is reset, telling a teen to fall asleep later at night and wake up later in the morning. This change in the circadian rhythm seems to be due to the fact that the brain hormone melatonin is produced later at night in teens than it is for kids and adults, making it harder for teens to fall asleep. Sometimes this delay in the sleep–wake cycle is so severe that it affects a person's daily functioning. In those cases it's called delayed sleep phase syndrome.

Changes in the body clock aren't the only reason teens lose sleep, though. Lots of people have insomnia — trouble falling or staying asleep. The most common cause of insomnia is stress. But all sorts of things can lead to insomnia, including physical discomfort (the stuffy nose of a cold or the pain of a headache, for example), emotional troubles (like family problems or relationship difficulties), and even an uncomfortable sleeping environment (a room that's too hot, cold, or noisy).

It's common for everyone to have insomnia from time to time. But if insomnia lasts for a month or longer with no relief, then doctors consider it chronic. Chronic insomnia can be caused by a number of different problems, including medical conditions, mental-health problems, medication side effects, or substance abuse. People with chronic insomnia can often get help for their condition from a doctor, therapist, or other counselor.

For some people, insomnia can be made worse by worrying about the insomnia itself. A brief period of insomnia can build into something longer lasting when a person becomes anxious about not sleeping or worried about feeling tired the next day. Doctors call this psychophysiologic insomnia.

A few examples of conditions that can disrupt sleep in teens include:

Periodic Limb Movement Disorder and Restless Legs Syndrome
People with these conditions find their sleep is disrupted by leg (or, less frequently, arm) movements, leaving them tired or irritable from lack of sleep. In the case of periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), these movements are involuntary twitches or jerks: They're called involuntary because the person isn't consciously controlling them and is often unaware of the movement. People with restless legs syndrome (RLS) actually feel physical sensations in their limbs, such as tingling, itching, cramping, or burning. The only way they can relieve these feelings is by moving their legs or arms to get rid of the discomfort.

Doctors can treat PLMD and RLS. For some people, treating an iron deficiency can make them go away; other people may need to take other types of medication.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea
This sleep disorder causes a person to stop breathing temporarily during sleep. One common cause of obstructive sleep apnea is enlarged tonsils or adenoids (tissues located in the passage that connects the nose and throat). Being overweight or obese can also lead a person to develop obstructive sleep apnea.

People with obstructive sleep apnea may snore, have difficulty breathing, and even sweat heavily during sleep. Because it disrupts sleep, someone with sleep apnea may feel extremely sleepy or irritable during the day. People who show signs of obstructive sleep apnea, such as loud snoring or excessive daytime sleepiness, should be evaluated by a doctor.

Reflux
Some people have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which causes stomach acid to move backward up into the esophagus, producing the uncomfortable, burning sensation known as heartburn. GERD symptoms can be worse when someone is lying down. Even if someone doesn't notice the feelings of heartburn during sleep, the discomfort it causes can still interfere with the sleep cycle.

Nightmares
Most teens have nightmares on occasion. But frequent nightmares can disrupt sleep patterns by waking someone during the night. Some things can trigger more frequent nightmares, including certain medications, drugs, or alcohol. Ironically, sleep deprivation can also be a cause. The most common triggers for more frequent nightmares are emotional, such as stress or anxiety. If nightmares are interfering with your sleep, it's a good idea to talk to a doctor, therapist, or other counselor.

Narcolepsy
People with narcolepsy are often very sleepy during the day and have sleep "attacks" that may make them suddenly fall asleep, lose muscle control, or see vivid dreamlike images while dozing off or waking up. Someone's nighttime sleep may be disrupted, with frequent awakenings throughout the night. Narcolepsy can be disturbing because people fall asleep without warning, making it hazardous to do things like drive. A person's schooling, work, or social life can be affected by the unusual sleep patterns.

Narcolepsy is not that commonly diagnosed in teens, although many cases go unrecognized. People usually first begin to have symptoms between the ages of 10 and 25, but may not be properly diagnosed until 10–15 years later. Doctors usually treat narcolepsy with medications and lifestyle changes.

Sleepwalking
It's rare for teens to walk in their sleep; most sleepwalkers are children. Sleepwalking may run in families. It most often occurs when a person is sick, has a fever, is not getting enough sleep, or is feeling stress.

Because most sleepwalkers don't sleepwalk often, it's not usually a serious problem. Sleepwalkers tend to go back to bed on their own and don't usually remember sleepwalking. (Sleepwalking often happens during the deeper sleep that takes place during stages 3 and 4 of the sleep cycle.) Sometimes, though, a sleepwalker will need help moving around obstacles and getting back to bed. It's also true that waking sleepwalkers can startle them (but it isn't harmful), so try to guide a sleepwalker back to bed gently.

What Should I Do?
If you think you're getting enough rest at night and you're still feeling tired during the day, it's a good idea to visit your doctor. Excessive tiredness can be caused by all sorts of health problems, not just difficulties with sleep.

If your doctor suspects a sleep problem, he or she will look at your overall health and sleep habits. In addition to doing a physical examination, the doctor will take your medical history by asking you about any concerns and symptoms you have, your past health, your family's health, any medications you're taking, any allergies you may have, and other issues. The doctor may also do tests to find out whether any conditions — such as obstructive sleep apnea — might be interfering with your sleep.

Different sleep problems are treated differently. Some can be treated with medications, whereas others can be helped by special techniques such as light therapy (where someone sits in front of a lightbox for a certain amount of time each day) or other practices that can help reset a person's body clock.

Doctors also encourage teens to make lifestyle changes that promote good sleeping habits. You probably know that caffeine can keep you awake, but many teens don't realize that playing video games or watching TV before sleeping can do the same thing.  (+ info)

Sleep disorders?

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Not sleeping well at night, I suffer from Atrial fibbrelation, I take Digoxin, Beta Pace, to slow and regulate my heart,these meds are now at the maximum possible dosage and I started having brief bouts of a-fib again I take .1 milligrams of xanax 3 times a day to slow me down so I dont overtax my heart,my heart rate runs 40 to 60 B.P.M. during last bout of full blown a-fib heart rates hit 326 B.P.M.... I thought that I should sleep like a rock but only average 4 to 5 hours sleep a night and it is restless sleep. I also take Vytorin to lower high cholesterol, this leaves me constantly tired and with severe muscle and joint pain and often headaches. I am going back to Doctor but wanted feedback from anyone else who may be having same problem.
I do not have the same problem, but you should ask your doctor if too much medication could be it.  (+ info)

Any one know a drug free regimen to get my circadian rhythm it line?

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I am 180 degrees out. I stay awake at night and sleep all day. My roomate does the same. I can get it reversed but it ever so slowly goes out of wack again. Thanks.
A circadian rhythm is a roughly-24-hour cycle in the physiological processes of living beings, including plants, animals, fungi and cyanobacteria. The term "circadian", coined by Franz Halberg, comes from the Latin circa, "around", and dies, "day", meaning literally "about a day." The formal study of biological temporal rhythms such as daily, weekly, seasonal, and annual rhythms, is called chronobiology.

In a strict sense, circadian rhythms are endogenously generated, although they can be modulated by external cues such as sunlight and temperature. The first endogenous circadian oscillation was observed in the 1700s by the French scientist Jean-Jacques d'Ortous de Mairan who noticed that twenty four hour patterns in the movement of plant leaves continued even when the plants were isolated from external stimuli. Circadian rhythms may be defined by three criteria:

The rhythm persists in constant conditions (for example constant dark) with a period of about 24 hours
The rhythm period can be reset by exposure to a light or dark pulse
The rhythm is temperature compensated, meaning that it proceeds at the same rate within a range of temperatures.  (+ info)

circadian rhythms interaction with REM and NREM sleep?

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I know circadian rhythms are the biological clock stuff and REM and NREM are the different sleep cycles but how do they relate?
Carcadian rhythm relates to sleep time and in that sense relates to REM and NREM but beyond that I don't see how they specifically relate.

It's like a bus schedule. The schedule determines approximately when a bus will be on any given street. But the bus schedule doesn't directly relate to who and how many people get on or off the bus at each stop.

About 80% of sleep is NREM, 20% REM. REM occurs because a person is dreaming and the person moves his eyes because he is moving his eyes to "look" at what is occuring in the dream/ Dreaming is thought to be a protecter of sleep as it occurs during lighter sleep. Dreams distract the person and make them less sensitive to outside stimuli like sounds. In this way the person patches periods of sleep together so they have 7 or 8 hours of continuous sleep rater than only 2 hours at a time. Carcadian rhythem affects when you sleep but not specifically when you have NREM or REM sleep  (+ info)

REACTION PLEASE... What is your Reaction regarding this: "Mild Head Injuries Increase Risk Of Sleep Disorders"

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As many as 40 to 65 percent of people with mild traumatic brain injury complain of insomnia," said study author Liat Ayalon, PhD, with the University of California, San Diego. "This is concerning since sleeping problems may exacerbate other brain injury symptoms such as headache, emotional distress, and cognitive impairment, making the rehabilitation process much harder."
For the study, researchers assessed 42 people who reported to the Sheba Medical Center in Israel with complaints of insomnia after mild traumatic brain injury. Those suspected of having a circadian rhythm sleep disorder (CRSD) (i.e. problems with the timing of sleep) underwent scans, sleep studies, and had their oral temperature and saliva melatonin measured.
The study found 15 of the 42 patients, or 36 percent, had a CRSD. Of those, eight people had a delayed sleep phase syndrome with problems falling asleep and waking up, and seven people had irregular sleep-wake patterns.
"The frequency of sleep disorders in this study is considerably higher than the rate of these disorders among people attending sleep clinics for insomnia, which is seven to 10 percent," said Ayalon.

Ayalon said these findings suggest that sleep disorders that involve changes in the timing of sleep may be relatively frequent among brain injury patients and should be considered when these patients report sleeping problems to avoid misdiagnosis. "Misdiagnosis of these patients as insomniac may lead to prescription of medications, which help people fall asleep but don't help normalize the sleep-wake cycle," said Ayalon.

In addition, Ayalon said since circadian rhythm sleep disorders are often associated with cognitive and psychological problems, treatment might ultimately lead to improvement in other brain injury related symptoms. Ayalon said further studies are needed to explain the mechanism behind CRSDs in people with brain injury
juST YOUR rEACTION PLEASE
There are many things to consider here. First, this is a small study...too small to say there is a signficant difference in prevalence of sleep disorders in those with head injury versus those have not.

Second, is it doesn't make any attempt to explain the nature of the sleep disorder. Is is directly attributable to the head injury itself, or could it be due to medication or emotional stress of the injury? Many people undergoing rehabiliation have sleep related issues such as those who've undergone chemotherapy and raidation, those who've had joint replacement surgery, etc.

At best, this study suggests there is an association between sleep disorders and TBI, but it does not discuss a causal relationship...furthermore, a larger study is needed to draw more firm consclusions.  (+ info)

Can you have a non-24-hour circadian rhythm?

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I think my circadian rhythm is longer than 24 hours. Is that possible? If I don't control myself, I end up staying up later and later each night and waking up later and later. It's gotten to the point that I go to sleep around 10am and wake up around 8pm. I know this is not normal, and it seems like the only way I can fix it is to continue letting the cycle happen until I'm going to sleep and waking up at a normal time.
Yes, you can have a longer circadian rhythm. Actually, most peoples c-rhythm is longer, like 24 1/2 or 25. But, most of us are forced to adjust because of work and school and home schedules.  (+ info)

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