[Locust]

Sometimes I wake up with this dark, depressed feeling. Now, I know some days we're just in bad moods, but I feel like this is a result of something to do with my sleeping. Sometimes it fades after I've been up awhile, but when I wake up there is this dark heaviness. Anyone know what might be causing it?

[Puffyprue]

Originally Posted by Locust

Sometimes I wake up with this dark, depressed feeling. Now, I know some days we're just in bad moods, but I feel like this is a result of something to do with my sleeping. Sometimes it fades after I've been up awhile, but when I wake up there is this dark heaviness. Anyone know what might be causing it?

r u feel this way everyday?

[Typo]

(((((((((((((((Locust))))))))))))))))

[nowheretorun]

what type sensory data are you receiving in largest part? such as movies, books, music, friends, family, environment, etc? what goes in affects what comes out..

[turquoisesea]

nowheretorun has a good point...
also what do you do right before you go to bed? I've read somewhere that sleep patterns are affected by the amount of light you get right before bed.... lots of little things make a big difference.
Maybe try to do something relaxing for 30min to -1 hour before bedtime?

Originally Posted by nowheretorun

what type sensory data are you receiving in largest part? such as movies, books, music, friends, family, environment, etc? what goes in affects what comes out..

[epiphany.]

there are certain times of the day that are much worse for me. my naturopath explained that there are a ton of factors that influence your mood and energy at certain times of the day.
i really dont like relying on science to explain myself , but my naturopath was able to make connections/conclusions based on my experience rather than a textbook.
so i suppose my advice is- see a naturopath, if possible, or just do some research/evaluating on your own to see what makes differences.

i got a relaxation cd with a self-help book on mindfulness that i bought, and i put it on my ipod so i can listen to it if i feel my mind is too busy or fast for me to sleep.

[nightbird]

epiphany, so do I!

I think that if you clear your mind before bed, by doing a relaxation tape, for example, and I mean 'doing' it, you may find it helps you also in doing some inner work to clear up those cluttered corners of the mind and emotions that might be waking up with you, you know?

I had that for awhile, like a dark cloud following me till it dispersed during the day...but it was not any fun, for sure.

It made waking up more difficult.

Since I have sought to correct this problem myself, and wake up uninpinged with guilts or regrets or heaviness, those depressed feelings, I have used relaxation tapes that include giuded imagery and also, affirmations... while in bed. I actually fall asleep during the tape and it's alright, because our sub-conscious takes it in anyway.

I use Bellaruth Naperstak, although there are many their are many others... and her variety impresses me.

She has tapes for depression, anxiety, panic, ptsd, surgery prep and cancer, chemo, radiation, weight, grief... you name it!

I got mine thru a lending library at first, until I ordered it from amazon because I became so aware of the positive impact this had on my life, and my own personal recovery from serious illness.

You might want to try it.

Also, there was a thread around here awhile ago, by SKY, that asked us what we would put in a basket for emotional rescues, kinda, and I mean real things we could go to and use to build ourselves right back up when we sink down...

Some ideas were like peoples favorite music 'feel good' cd's
a movie that makes them laugh
a favorite pj or nightshirt
aromatherapy spray
a bath salt with minerals and essential oil
a book of affirmations
a light read fiction
a travel book
candles
nail polish set
......

You get the idea?

Maybe we should do another thread, huh?

Well, glad you wrote about this.

Hope whatever can help you - is discovered soon.

Peace and Comfort,
Nightbird

[wusiwug]

Thank you for the insights. I think think the idea of relaxation tapes is a great idea.

[epiphany.]

I have 2 sets of "instructions" i use:

Ten Minutes to Relax (I think this one came with a yoga dvd?)

and the other one is a series of relaxation/meditation exercises that came with the book "The Mindful Way Through Depression" ... i use the Body Scan to fall asleep to, even though you're not suppose to use it to fall asleep, but to be more aware of yourself/body. the Author is John-Kabot-Zinn (sp??) ...search stuff that he does, it's awesome.

You can find some okay stuff on youtube, and can usually download stuff (with whatever downloader you use)

good luck... im very confident that these will make a big difference. but remember, it'll take a few tries.