Sleep and Depression:
These are a few of the items I use and recommend for improving sleep quality. The link between sleep and depression is a hard one to nail down. It’s sort of a chicken and egg situation, but everyone I know with mild to severe depression seems to suffer from sleep trouble. I found a great deal of relief once I got my mattress, bedding, sleep mask, and earplug game going. I blacked out the windows and flipped my alarm clock face down so the light can’t be seen. Bam! Far better sleep! Click on the photos to start filling your shopping cart with exactly what you need over on Amazon.
BedInABox Matteresses:
I ordered my BedInABox Matteress almost two years ago and I’ve been incredibly impressed with the quality and comfort. If your mattress isn’t keeping you comfortable and supported, or you wake up stiff and sore like I did, I recommend replacing it with one of these soft, supportive foam mattresses.
Pinzon 400 thread count Hotel Stitch Sheet Set:
I’ve found the quality of the sheets I sleep on can make a difference on how quickly I get comfortable, and how well I regulate my temperature while I sleep. I really like these hotel stitch sheets.
Alaska Bear Natural Silk Sleep Mask:
This is the best sleep mask I’ve found. I’ve tried four others from Amazon, and this one is by far the most comfortable. It’s soft and wide enough from top to bottom to keep the light out even in a lit room. The headband is adjustable. This is the only one I’ve tried with an adjustable band. I know it’s silly to gush about a sleep mask, but this one just works really well.
3M Soft Earplugs (200 box):
I’m very sensitive to noise when I’m trying to sleep. These have a noise reduction rating of 33 db. It cuts out most rogue sounds but still leaves me feeling like I can still hear important sounds in the house in case of an emergency.
Sundown Naturals Melatonin 300 mcg:
I don’t use melatonin that often, but I thought it was worth listing it so that I can help people choose the correct dosage. Far too often I run into people taking way too much melatonin. The most common dosages are 1 mg up to 5 mg, but you really need to be taking micro doses. The gland that produces melatonin is very small and it produces a small quantity for the brains use. Taking large quantities can overwhelm the system and trick the brain into slowing the natural production of melatonin. My suggestion based on the studies I’ve read is not to exceed 300 micrograms. If you take a little L-Tryptophan along with your melatonin you’ll boost the efficacy and you won’t be overwhelming the system.
Getting your sleep game under control is so important. I know these items will help with your sleep and depression. Give them a try!