Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Increased Sleep While Suffering From Depression?
Question: My husband passed away on 3/28/15. I was off work for one week after this and went back to work. I have handled thing fairly well considering that he died at age 47 unexpectedly. I am currently living with my aunt. My husband died at our home and I cant go back there. His cause of death is pending toxicology, but is believed to be aortic aneursym or cardiac related. For the last 2 days, I have been so sleepy at work, but sleep well at night. Is this a normal reaction to grief? I have never been thru this before and just concerned
Brief Answer:
Yes, increased sleep or the opposite can both come with grief or depression
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
I am so very sorry for your loss. And I can understand why you would not want to go back to your home yet.
Your loss is still very recent. It is not uncommon to feel either very tired and sleepy or to have the opposite and be unable to sleep or wake up too early. Various physical reactions are not uncommon. Your mind, body, and spirit took a big hit and you are under emotional stress. Some people loose their appetite, have headaches, feel sluggish, or have aches and pains.
Often people find the hardest period of grief is in the first 3 months, but there is usually still considerable grief for the first year. It of course varies from person to person and situation.
It is good that you are with your aunt so that you are not alone. You may want to consider joining a grief support group of other people who have lost their spouses as loss of one's partner is in particular a situation understood better by people who have gone thru the same thing.
It sounds like you have been able to function pretty well, but if you find that you are having more grief symptoms, emotional or physical, you may want to see your doctor for help with an antidepressant.
Again, I am so sorry. I have had many personal losses myself so I know some of the feelings you may be experiencing.
Is there anything further I can help you with?
Yes, increased sleep or the opposite can both come with grief or depression
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
I am so very sorry for your loss. And I can understand why you would not want to go back to your home yet.
Your loss is still very recent. It is not uncommon to feel either very tired and sleepy or to have the opposite and be unable to sleep or wake up too early. Various physical reactions are not uncommon. Your mind, body, and spirit took a big hit and you are under emotional stress. Some people loose their appetite, have headaches, feel sluggish, or have aches and pains.
Often people find the hardest period of grief is in the first 3 months, but there is usually still considerable grief for the first year. It of course varies from person to person and situation.
It is good that you are with your aunt so that you are not alone. You may want to consider joining a grief support group of other people who have lost their spouses as loss of one's partner is in particular a situation understood better by people who have gone thru the same thing.
It sounds like you have been able to function pretty well, but if you find that you are having more grief symptoms, emotional or physical, you may want to see your doctor for help with an antidepressant.
Again, I am so sorry. I have had many personal losses myself so I know some of the feelings you may be experiencing.
Is there anything further I can help you with?
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
Thank you so much for your reply. This makes me feel so much better and that I am not crazy. I have done well by the grace of God. My husband did not suffer and was spiritually ready when God called him. I am so grateful for that. I had to replace all my animals and miss them so much, but know that they are in good homes. My husband's dog grieved herself to death a week after my husband passed. I have taken a hard life change, but God is with me and for that I am grateful. Thank you for responding so quickly. I feel so much better, that I am "normal" considering the circumstances. Thank you again for everything!
Brief Answer:
It will get better
Detailed Answer:
Oh my, I am sorry you have had further loss with your husband's dog.
Some other thoughts on things that may be helpful to you (which you may have already figured out) -
Talking with people who knew your husband well.
Talking with your clergy.
Talking with a counselor (and there are grief counselors who specialize in this).
You seem to be a spiritual person, and people who have a sense of spirituality and God do better with grief than others.
Although it may feel extremely hard right now, it will get better over time. We are never completely the same after having lost a loved one, but we can and do go on and eventually life will feel better again.
If you have no further questions I can help with, you can go ahead and close this transaction.
My sympathy and best regards to you.
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD
It will get better
Detailed Answer:
Oh my, I am sorry you have had further loss with your husband's dog.
Some other thoughts on things that may be helpful to you (which you may have already figured out) -
Talking with people who knew your husband well.
Talking with your clergy.
Talking with a counselor (and there are grief counselors who specialize in this).
You seem to be a spiritual person, and people who have a sense of spirituality and God do better with grief than others.
Although it may feel extremely hard right now, it will get better over time. We are never completely the same after having lost a loved one, but we can and do go on and eventually life will feel better again.
If you have no further questions I can help with, you can go ahead and close this transaction.
My sympathy and best regards to you.
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
