One of the questions it seems like we all ask if what leads to what? Does lack of sleep cause the pain? Or does pain cause the lack of sleep? Does depression cause it all? Or does the combined lack of sleep and pain cause depression?
Pain, Depression, Sleep Issues : Which Comes First?
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This is just my opinion. As if 99% of what I post here isn’t just my opinion, sometimes educated, sometimes not so much.
Here’s my thoughts (based on how my situation developed)…
1. Pain –
I’ve had various types of chronic pain over the last 4 or 5 years, and there were times where that pain kept me awake at night or woke me up. BUT, it was never like it’s been the last year.
I KNOW that my pain is much worse on a day after I haven’t slept well. If I’m up all night, I hurt worse the next day. If I’m tired and worn out, I feel the pain deeper. So, personally, I believe that the lack of sleep causes the pain.
2. Depression –
My mood overall is pretty good, but the longer I go not feeling well or in pain, the worse my mood gets and the more depressed I get. The depression, for me, is more of a side effect of not being able to do all the things I’m used to doing and want to do.
It’s depressing to be stuck and feel like you can’t do anything, can’t go anywhere, can’t enjoy life. It’s depressing to have to cancel plans at the last minute, to feel like your friends think you are a total flake because you can’t make plans to start with. So, in my opinion, the pain causes the depression.
3. Lack of Sleep –
Sleep is the one I can’t figure out. I can’t figure out what causes it, but I’ve read enough to know that there may well be a neurological /physical cause for the lack of sleep. From there it only makes sense that lack of sleep would aggravate chronic pain and leave you feeling lifeless and unhappy.
Perhaps, that was the answer all along. A chemical imbalance that could easily be corrected with natural CBD oil?
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