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Why do I feel so depressed at night?

161 Answers
Last Updated: 07/29/2018 at 12:02am
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
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Top Rated Answers
iona
November 1st, 2015 12:16am
because at night, you are left to your own thoughts, with no interruption unless you take initiative and contact someone (a kind reminder that there always is someone to talk to, even if it's a suicide hotline, or just for a chat). And it's dark so you don't get much light into your body. It can be rather sobering. But I AM HERE IF YOU NEED TO RANT, stay strong
Heyimhere123
November 6th, 2015 3:12pm
Sometimes I feel depressed at night because I feel like I have not done enough good in the day. And if i have not done enough I should not be in bed I should be out doing something good or productive.
Anonymous
February 3rd, 2016 10:03am
This is a noted phenomenon, caused in part by our circadian rhythm. At night, our more rational areas of the brain are less active, and the more primal, emotional areas are heightened to some extent.
Anonymous
November 29th, 2015 6:10pm
At night, there's darkness outside. Everyone is sleeping, and you get alone with your thoughts. You don't want to bother anyone at night, which makes it more difficult to know how to deal with depressive thoughts. You know you have to deal with it all alone, not to wake up people you know bothering them with your problems. so you choose the easiest, yet most difficult way, trying to deal with it alone.
WhisperingBug
February 6th, 2016 6:55am
When you're tired, your emotions become more elevated and heightened. Every problem you face during the day becomes huge and important, and with the emotions in overdrive, the problems become sad, frustrating, confusing, and hopeless.
Gisellelovesyouall
November 28th, 2015 6:41am
Because I feel abandoned by my friends, because of something I probably did in the day. Most nights I feel alone because every single person is sleeping.
Anonymous
December 15th, 2015 7:56pm
Well biologically speaking due to release of serotonin . an enzyme that allows you to sleep. It works in a way so that u fall asleep. But if you don't . the enzyme works in a different way. So depression happening in night or day isn't anything weird.
Lotus48
January 14th, 2016 8:31pm
sometimes it could be because of a lost of an significant other, Not being satisfied with ones life and accomplishments.
Anonymous
December 5th, 2015 10:49am
Some people feel stressed at night because their brains are no longer as active and when they lie down to sleep or relax they find their brain starts to stress about all the little things as well!
Anonymous
January 20th, 2016 1:08am
A main reason why you probably feel depressed at night is, because you're alone. When you're alone you have the chance to reflect and think about everything you did. Of course depression always picks out the worst parts of your day. Overall, being alone at night is a reason you might feel depressed.
StarryLove
February 23rd, 2016 6:45am
That can only be answered by you, my dear child because there are many possible scenarios such as: Do you constantly remember the things that make you feel stressed whenever you are about to sleep or Do you suddenly feel lonely because of the darkness? :D
AndyDufresne1994
August 21st, 2015 6:05pm
That is a complex issue. One you may just be tired from the day. People who are already depressed use a lot of energy to do every day things like go to work or school. So you may simply be depleted at night. Secondly, you may be more lonely at night. If you come home to a empty home or are not emotionally attached to the people you live with (like roommates) you may just be noticing it more.) Lastly the brain is a complex tool. If you realize it or not it has it's own cycles and rhythms. At night the level of hormones in your body decrease. You brain is beginning your body for bed. So if you already struggle with the level in your brain you may be effected harder. That is the goal of all mental health medication is to bring those level back to normal. Unfortunately there is not a easy blood tests and trying different ones at different levels and combinations may be needed. We are always here 24/7 to talk to. So if depression hits you harder at nigh, try logging in.
Hannahcruz
January 29th, 2016 8:03am
you're alone with your own thoughts, it's kind of like locking yourself in a small room with a dangerous animal.
Anonymous
February 6th, 2016 5:35pm
There are several different studies that suggest that your brain works differently at night if you stay up late and that sleep is necessary to sort of "recharge" it. How late are you staying up? Can you figure out ways to go to sleep earlier? Do you feel refreshed in the morning or do you still feel depressed? Also, are you getting enough sunlight during the day? Sunlight gives vitamin D to us humans which can also potentially influence mood. Talk to a doctor about this issue to get some more help and insight on what may be causing the depression and how to treat it.
HazeHaze2
January 17th, 2016 11:53pm
Because at night you reflect on everything, good and bad, that haunts your memory. This is just what ive observed over the years but there may be more reasons as well.
Anonymous
October 28th, 2015 2:33am
You feel more alone at night, because you feel like you're the only one who's still awake. You have more time to think because the world is resting and quiet. It feels like it's just you and your feelings.
Anonymous
August 29th, 2015 1:46am
Feeling depressed at night is a very common problem so remember that you are not odd or alone in feeling this way! You may be depressed because it makes you feel lonely. You may become depressed because the night's silence leaves you to think about the things that upset you. I find music to be very helpful in keeping the mood positive on a quiet night.
Jenna
September 16th, 2015 10:37pm
It's possible that since you're unwinding down from your busy day, you're being less distracted which gives your depression time to affect you more and your thoughts to run wild.
organticMango15
January 27th, 2016 10:22am
During the day, you can do whatever you can to keep yourself busy so that you stop yourself from over-thinking - during the night, however, the only thing you can do is think. When you close your eyes to fall asleep, the only thing you can do is think, and your mind immediately goes to over-think mode, so you start to feel depressed. This is completely normal.
Anonymous
December 24th, 2017 5:59pm
Throughout the day, most of us are so busy rushing around, and working, and interacting, and surfing, and shopping, and doing stuff, that our 'inner self' gets very little opportunity to express itself. The inner self doesn't give up trying to communicate with us, and its best time is when things have finally calmed down a little bit, and there's a bit of peace and space, ie, bed time. Night time is quiet time (at least, relatively), when all the bustle of the day has gone. A lot of our uncomfortable, difficult emotions surface at night, simply because the distractions have disappeared. They are actually there the whole time, just we aren't paying attention to them.
QuidditchWitch
October 29th, 2015 1:38pm
Because you're generally alone, and have time to think, and let your mind wander. Try distraction and breathing techniques - if you're focused on other things, your mind is occupied.
haya44
November 27th, 2015 2:08pm
hello there! I'm haya and id like to answer this question from personal experience. everyone feels depressed at some point in there life. Feeling depressed at night is usually linked with the dark atmosphere surrounding us. Moreover the disappearance of sunlight which is connected with happiness and hope could relate to that too. when i had many obstacles facing me, i would be distracted outdoors during the day and it would be bright and sunny outside that i wouldn't consider them as much. However sitting at home, at night, they would all suddenly hit me. The dark atmosphere and dull mood trigger them. Then, i would become depressed and hopeless about facing those obstacles. This could also be because we are generally more busy, with work or school in the morning and more free to think at night.
Anonymous
February 11th, 2016 4:25pm
We feel depressed at night maybe because we fell alone and no one to talk to. We feel lonely and overthink and can lead to depression.
lexieejolleen
January 29th, 2016 4:05am
Maybe because your alone in bed, its quiet and that can make you mind wonder sometimes. You start to think about everything and then start over thinking.
Anonymous
September 11th, 2015 5:07pm
It is the time for most of us when we finally get to rewind after the day and just lie down and relax. For most people it's the quietest time of the day with less distractions and things to do, therefore our mind is thinking constantly about what is happening in our lives or what has happened us in the past.
Amylee12
January 29th, 2016 8:16am
I reckon for me its easier to feel depressed at night as I am more tired. I dont have the resistance the same. I also am alone more at night, not so busy. I can think of how I actually feel at night. all the best
Anonymous - Expert in Depression
August 20th, 2015 3:40am
At night is when the world goes quiet, everyone is asleep and you're left alone with your thoughts. There are less distractions so it's easy to over think and focus on little insignificant details. You may feel lonely, or uncomfortable with the dark, intimidating environment.
Anonymous
November 23rd, 2016 12:18am
Everyone is talking about feelings and emotions... I don't know, I'm no doctor or anything, but that's not the answer I'm looking for (and I found this by googling the same question you're asking). I have a feeling (again, not a doctor) that it has something to do with the chemicals released when your brain says "It's time to start shutting down for today." Maybe it's just me...but that's what I think.
Anonymous
July 29th, 2018 12:02am
Because at night you are alone it’s your time so you can often feel alone and you have time to think of stuff you done so you can also feel regret or you could just think it get sad about that
Anonymous
July 5th, 2018 11:07pm
It’s normal for me to feel depressed at night and for most people . I have felt like this since I was around 5 years old and I found night time the worst time as I felt alone. I have obviously got over my fear of the dark however you still feel alone and start to think things. Then I’m the morning you feel different and happy and those thoughts are there but you don’t feel that way towards them. You mostly feel better because when you sleep your body self heals it’s self and relaxs meaning you will wake up feeling happy and calm. Then you come to the same time at night and that thought and feeling is back again. Maybe to help with this is to tell someone your thoughts and how you feel about them and how you think events in the past might have caused this as when you tell someone that important heavy feeling towards those thoughts will be gone as they are not as important as when you was keeping it in. If you find it hard to talk to your friends and family about it thats normal and it’s easier to tell a stranger then someone you care about. There are websites and hot lines that you can speak to people on and they won’t judge you but listen and help.