“Can depression make you have insomnia?”

Absolutely, depression can present itself in various aspects of one’s life. Sleep and appetite are two areas where it can be especially prevalent. A person may sleep too little, eat too little, or the opposite and may see excess in those areas.

Depression can cause insomnia and chronic insomnia can lead to depression.

An excellent observation. Another way to look at insomnia and depression is that insomnia is frequently associated with depression. In fact, it is considered one of the major hallmarks of depression, and frequently, cognitive behavioral therapy as well as medication is frequently aimed at insomnia associated with depression.

Lance Steinberg MD, Inc.

Thank you for the question and being involved enough to ask! As the parent of an adolescent, you are no stranger to the difficulties of navigating this very difficult transition period. Raging hormones, difficult social dynamics, complicated by a lost year due to COVID isolation and conflicting environmental messages, it's no wonder all 13-year-olds aren't struggling to some degree. And in fact, many are. Perhaps for all of time, to varying degrees? It would be very important to determine if your child does in fact have a "mild depression." Depression is a symptom constellation and can present differently in adolescents than adults.

As to insomnia and depression: Insomnia can be a variant of normal behavior (during times of stress) or a symptom of any number of psychiatric illnesses including depression, so contextual meaning is important. Since you are concerned enough to ask the question, you might want to consider professional consultation; you might consider your pediatrician as a starting point.


Sincerely,

Renee S. Kohanski, M.D.

Depression is among the most common causes of insomnia. It can cause difficulty falling asleep and difficulty staying asleep. It can cause early awakenings it would be worth consulting with your pediatrician on how to proceed.