Why am i happier at night

Scientists claim one sleep habit can lead to more happiness. Feeling the blues? Findings also showed that with each hour earlier that we wake up, the benefits grow.

Data also included 85 who wore wearable sleep trackers for 7 days and who filled out sleep preference questionnaires. The average sleep midpoint halfway between bedtime and wake time was 3 a. This means they went to bed at 11 p. If you normally go to bed at 1 a. If you go to bed at 11 p. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. For those who have mild depression and other mood disorders, it's not uncommon to experience symptoms at night.

A person may have more energy and a better mood earlier in the day, with symptoms of depression becoming worse at night. People who experience diurnal mood variation typically feel the symptoms of melancholic depression most intensely in the morning and notice a gradual improvement as the day goes on. People who are depressed may feel there is no clear reason for the mood changes they experience at certain times of the day.

Unlike people who do not have depression, they may feel that they are unable to control the changes. However, they usually report these fluctuations are in response to certain situations or influences. While there are some similarities, diurnal mood variation differs from mood changes that occur with the change of seasons.

It's also not the same as seasonal affective disorder SAD , which is typically influenced by the time of year rather than the time of day. People who have depression with diurnal mood variation have a low mood and feel that their depression symptoms are at their worst in the morning, but they seem to get better throughout the day. In addition to characteristic clinical depression symptoms like profound sadness and low mood, people with diurnal mood variation may also:.

As with the causes of clinical depression , the driving force behind diurnal mood variation isn't completely understood. One theory is that the variations occur in response to circadian rhythms. Your circadian rhythm is the natural pattern of variations in wakefulness, body temperature, blood pressure, and hormone levels that your body goes through during a hour day. Even people who don't have a mood disorder can experience sleep trouble based on changes in their circadian rhythm.

Therefore, it makes sense that these irregularities could contribute to symptoms of depression. Researchers know that people who have depression are especially vulnerable to irregularities in their internal clock and sleep patterns. Mood swings may be instigated by changes to external light and dark cues, such as the timing of sunrise and sunset.

These factors can also influence other depressive disorders such as SAD. But research also suggests that making changes to try to stabilize relationships between sleep, wakefulness, eating, exercise, meal times, and the timing of medication may decrease the impact of diurnal mood variation.

People who experience it are usually diagnosed with major depression or a similar condition. For example, some people with bipolar disorder experience similar symptoms and may be misdiagnosed with unipolar depression. While your doctor or psychiatrist is evaluating you for depression or another mental health disorder, they will often ask questions about your sleep habits, as well as how your mood changes throughout the day.

For example, they may ask if you are sleeping more or less than usual, how well you are sleeping, and if you feel better in the morning than in the afternoon or evening.

Get our printable guide to help you ask the right questions at your next doctor's appointment. If you experience diurnal mood variation, start by talking to your doctor or mental health professional about your options for treating the specific type of depression you have, including different forms of psychotherapy , medications, or a combination of interventions.

In either case, phototherapy may also help people with morning depression. Also known as light therapy or lightbox therapy, phototherapy involves shining full-spectrum bright light that mimics natural outdoor light on your face while sitting the appropriate distance away from the light box. During phototherapy, you will either sit next to a lightbox or be fitted with visor designed to expose your eyes to artificial light that mimics natural daylight.

Light therapy is used to treat an array of medical and mental health conditions. These include bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder , premenstrual syndrome PMS , and sleep disorders like insomnia. There are several different classes of antidepressant medications that can be prescribed for depression.

Research has suggested that some medications may be more effective at addressing morning depression than others. Melatonin is a hormone that helps regulate your body's circadian rhythm. Some people find taking a melatonin supplement improves their sleep patterns and may help them cope with symptoms of morning depression.

Research has suggested that a specific atypical antidepressant called agomelatine, a synthetic form of melatonin, could be an effective treatment for depression with diurnal mood variation. If you or a loved one are struggling with diurnal mood or morning depression, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration SAMHSA National Helpline at for information on support and treatment facilities in your area. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.

If you experience morning depression, you may also find it helpful to try making some lifestyle changes to see if your symptoms improve, such as:.

If you have depression, you may notice your symptoms seem worse at certain times of the day. While diurnal mood variation or morning depression isn't a diagnosis in and of itself, it can be a symptom of major depression specifically melancholic depression. The U. That data was collected based on both questionaires and wearable monitors. That study also highlighted the issue of "social jetlag," whereby societal pressures mean early birds might be forced to stay up later in the evenings on weekends to socialize, just as night owls are forced to wake up earlier for work in the week.

Social jetlag can be quantified by looking at the difference in sleeping hours between work days and free time. Sign up now: Get smarter about your money and career with our weekly newsletter. Skip Navigation. Jennifer Liu.