4. Psychological Causes: The Invisible Weight of Depression
When it comes to excessive daytime sleepiness, the role of mental health can’t be overlooked. Depression is often viewed as a solely emotional issue, but its physical manifestations are equally distressing. Among these, daytime sleepiness stands out as a particularly troubling symptom, affecting both the person’s productivity and quality of life.
Delving into the biology, depression influences neurotransmitter levels, specifically serotonin and dopamine. These neurotransmitters play a crucial role in regulating mood and sleep. With an imbalance, the internal sleep-wake cycle gets disrupted, leading to poor sleep quality and subsequent daytime sleepiness.
But it’s more than just a simple chemical imbalance. The mental exhaustion brought on by constant worry and stress can also contribute to daytime fatigue. It’s a vicious cycle: the sleepiness exacerbates the depression, and the depression makes it harder to tackle the sleepiness. (4)
