Why does depression make me lie in bed all day?

This article will explain what happens to a person when they are depressed, which can cause them to feel the need to lie in bed all day. For that, the article will explain what depression is. 

Not only that, it will show how depression affects a person’s mood, their view of the world, and their motivation. Aside from that, the article will show ways a person can help a loved one going through this.

Can depression make it hard for a person to get out of bed?

Yes, being depressed can make it hard for a person to do things. Even the most simple ones such as getting out of bed can turn into a sacrifice. This can be related to many aspects of depression. 

When a person is in a low mood, they usually have less energy to go after a goal. And even if a person is willing to try, as they can’t accomplish it, the frustration that will come from it is so intense, that can make it even harder to reach the goal, which causes them to give up.

So people with depression are not willingly just lying in bed all day. They usually are so overcommitted to getting out of bed that by the time they can’t do it, it makes it impossible for them to find another possibility, and they give you.

But to understand more about that, let’s learn what depression is.

What is depression?

Depression is a mental health issue that can make a person experience intense sadness, as well as feel hopeless about the future and their life. Not only that, they can lose interest in activities they used to love before, along with that, they lose the sense of possibilities, feel empty, and like they lost the purpose to their life.

Depression can happen to people at any time of their lives. But some situations can cause a person to have a higher chance of getting depressed. For example, women have a higher rate of depression when compared to men.

People that are experiencing traumas, such as the loss of a loved one, or a divorce, are also more prone to depression. It can also happen easier to a person that has a family history of depression or has gone through a depressive episode before. 

Depression can have a deep impact on how a person sees the world and their own life. They can start to have a decreased sense of self-worth, as well as lower self-esteem. It also presents many other symptoms, and although people may experience it differently, the most common symptoms are:

• Change in eating pattern
• Change in sleeping pattern
• Guilt
• Lack of ability to focus
• Lack of energy
• Excessive crying or difficulty crying even if they feel like it
• Isolation
• Irritability
• Self-harm
• Thought of death or suicidal thoughts

Although those are all common symptoms of depression, the intensity of them, and how often they are observed change depending on the type of depression a person has. A person that is having trouble getting out of bed or keeping to their minimal activities usually has major depression or a recurrent depressive episode.

The impact of major depression in your life

Major depression can make it hard for a person to do the bare minimum they were used to. Their symptoms are usually so intense, that they might feel like the only source or source of comfort they have is being in bed.

When that is the case, the person with depression and even the world around them might judge them. This can make them feel like they are not trying hard enough to recover from depression.

What is extremely important in those situations is to remember that depression is not a choice. The person is holding on to what little comfort they can find. And being in bed is not necessarily easy. Being alone with their negative thoughts, the tears, the desperation, the inability to relax, their frustrations, and the dissociation is not easy.

It might be hard for them to reach that moment when they decide to overcome depression. It can come in glimpses, and they can get frustrated about it many times. It may be the same as other people when they start dieting. Next Monday, they will try.

But it takes a long time for them to be able to commit to a treatment. And when they do, it would be great to have people around them to support and go with them through this process.

How can I help a person that is having a hard time getting out of bed?

Having a friend or a family member going through such an intense depression that they can’t even get out of bed can be intense. People may feel helpless like they don’t know what to do, so let’s discuss some ways you can help.

Don’t judge 

The first thing to do is to not judge how they are feeling. Understand that this is not a choice. They didn’t ask for this, and they don’t want to feel like this forever. Be understanding, supportive and keep the door open for them to get in touch with you when in need.

Be present

Make yourself present in their life. Be it physically or through text. Let them know you are there. Ask them about how they are feeling and thinking. This can make them open up easily since sometimes they feel like a burden for people around them.

Help them with their chores

When a person is depressed and in bed all day, they might have trouble even eating. Bringing them food, maybe helping them with cleaning their house, or giving them a visit can be a way to get them out of bed a little, so they can eat, talk, and take some care of themselves.

Help them look for help 

When they decide they are open to looking for help, offer to help them. You can discover some therapists’ contacts, and accompany them to the appointment. Encourage them in that decision, letting them know how you hope they feel better soon.

Take care of your health

Being part of the support network of a person with depression is intense, and it can be a roller-coaster. It has its ups and downs, its frustrating bits, and through that, remember to take care of your mental health. Count on other people to take your post and find some time for yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Why does depression make me lie in bed all day?

What are ways to motivate me to get out of bed? 

The first thing to do, if you find it hard to get out of bed, is to count on your family or friends. Ask them to get in touch with you to help you start moving. Having a pet can have the same effect. If you have them to take care of, it can encourage you to get out of bed.

Aside from that, plan your morning routine in small steps. Don’t think of getting up and doing everything you need to do in a day. Focus on getting up, then washing your face, putting on some clothes. Having this step-by-step mentality can make you not feel so overwhelmed by it. 

Focus on what you have done, not what you failed. And how good it made you feel, this can maybe encourage you to do some more of it. Along with that, turning the lights on or opening the curtains can help your brain realize it is time to get up.

And as you do, try to think of something positive to do each day. This may keep you motivated.

What can happen if I stay in bed but don’t sleep? 

Lack of sleep can impact your body in many forms. It can make you more anxious, aside from that, it can affect your immune system, making it easier for you to get sick, but on the other hand, making it harder for you to recover from something.

That can happen because, during your sleep, your immune system will release in your body some proteins that will help you heal. So if you are sleep-deprived, you won’t give it enough time to focus on healing.

As for anxiety, when you don’t sleep, during the night you tend to experience more negative thoughts, and that can increase your anxiety.

What is narcolepsy? 

Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep condition in which the person may get extremely dizzy during the day, and during the night they can have attacks that cause them to lose muscle tone, which can make it hard for a person to move.

Since it is a chronic condition, it doesn’t have a cure. But people that are diagnosed with the condition may have a normal life when they alter their lifestyle, and through medication. 

Why are mornings hard for me? 

People have different ways of dealing with mornings. Although some might wake up full of energy, others usually need some time, as soon as they wake up, to feel good. But usually the first 15 minutes after a person wakes up is the harder period. 

This is because your brain might not be working properly during this time. This condition is called sleep inertia. This is what helps a person go back to sleep if they wake up briefly. But if you wake up, try to give your brain some time to gradually go back to function. 

But if you notice that your morning continues to be difficult past this time, it might be good to try and go to sleep earlier, and maybe go see a doctor about your sleep quality. 

Can I get body pain because I’m lying in bed all day?

Yes, when you stay in bed all day, it might be that you start to feel some back pain, it can also be that your muscles become sore because you can be tensing them up. Our body is not prepared for a person to stay more than two days in bed.

So try to not stay over that time, and also co sides bringing some exercises to your life as a way to make your body feel better, and more relaxed.

Conclusion

This article explained why people with depression may be lying in bed all day. For that, the article shows what depression is, and how it can impact a person’s daily life. 

And through that, it made clear how people with depression can have trouble finding motivation for doing things, as simple as getting out of bed. Aside from that, the article offered ways a person might help a loved one to do things.

References

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/charting-the-depths/201106/why-do-depressed-people-lie-in-bed