Sleeping makes me feel horrible when I'm depressed

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Most people sleep more, and when they do it helps them. Not me... it feels like I've slipped into some surreal hell.

Bad dreams? When I feel depressed sometimes my dreams feel loud and chaotic, and I'll wake up a lot during the night. I've been hitting the gym again to wear myself out, which does help after a week or two.

I'm a big fan of dream analysis; the idea that certain dreams have meaning and significance, and are our subconscious mind's way of expressing feelings and concerns and desires that our conscious mind may not even realize it holds.

So if dreams are your issue, OP, consider talking about them, or exploring a dream dictionary site like http://www.dreammoods.com/dreamdictionary/.

If they aren't the issue, talk more about what is.

Sleeping too much can add to your problems. Sometimes it's okay, obviously, but too much of it means that you're not moving forward in life. And that can be an extremely depressing state.

If you're sleeping "funky," consider changing your dietary habits. Eat less before bed, or more, or try milk or something to settle your stomach, or more water or something.

Obviously, minimize caffeine or alcohol intake throughout the day. And presumably smoking and drugs. I don't do any of those but I'm told that's solid advice.

If I want a really good night's sleep, I'll have a glass of juice and a multivitamin right before bed. The vitamin can give me f****d up dreams, but it also helps me jolt out of bed early in the morning. And having to go to the bathroom doesn't hurt. I also make it a point to leave my smartphone in my office so I don't get the urge to chat and surf in the morning before getting up.

A good book before lights out also helps. Not an e-reader, but the old-fashioned trustworthy paper kind that smells so relaxing. I suspect that part of the benefit of reading is that it focuses your mind on a simple and enjoyable task, where it can mentally doodle for twenty minutes or something and thus calm down and forget all the little stresses and complexities of the day. I have a hyperactive mind (as most people on this forum do), so quieting it down for sleep takes a real concerted effort.

But I'm just throwing ideas out there. Talk to us, maybe we can help. Or better sympathize if we can't.

When I say surreal hell, I don't mean dreaming. I just mean lying down in the dark makes the depression feel horrifying.

That sucks.

Does music help? Or more light?

Are you on any medication that might be worsening this issue?

And are you undergoing treatment for the depression?

I know that feeling I lie awake for ages feeling down and then when I do sleep I wake up feeling exhausted and brain dead of ideas or things to look forward to.