Depression and dreams: NOVA television show

[Mari]

Hi,

PBS's show Nova discusses dreams and depression.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/what-are-dreams.html

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PATRICK MCNAMARA: I think that we have more negative emotions during REM-related dreams because during REM sleep the amygdala is very highly activated, and the amygdala specializes in handling unpleasant emotions like intense fear or intense anger or aggression.

NARRATOR: Finally the night is over, but the experiment has more to reveal. McNamara is beginning to connect the proportion of REM and non-REM dreams with our mental wellbeing.

It could be a factor in depression.

PATRICK MCNAMARA: Normally, we fall asleep through non-REM sleep, but depressives, people with endogenous depressant depression or severe depression, they go right to REM, and then they stay in REM, and they spend too much time in REM. So if REM sleep is associated with all this unpleasant emotion and you get too much REM, then you are going to have a lot of unpleasant emotion. We call that depression.


=-=-=-=-=-=-=
ROBERT STICKGOLD: My sense is that when we're asleep and when we're dreaming, we are actually conscious and figuring out what's important about what happened to us and how that relates to everything else that's happened to us in the past and figuring out what that means about our future.

MATT WILSON: And when you think about the challenge that animals, that we as humans and the brain in general faces, it is the unknown of the future. And in REM, we may have the opportunity to step into that future world with no risk, because the consequences are simply things don't work out as you might have expected, and then you wake up.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=

You can watch the 51 minute program on the PBS site or read the transcript.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/what-are-dreams.html
M

[waves]

I have had sleep problems all summer. I think around springish(?) i had excessive sleep but very soon sleep quality and amount were eroded and i couldn't sleep unless exhausted and then not for long. I'd have what seemed like zoloft- or effexor-like titration symptoms affecting dreaming... lucid dreaming bla bla ... lots of REM ...

Finally the Zoloft was exhonerated from fault... especially once it was fully clear of my system. A small amount of research revealed that sleep deprivation fit the bill pretty well. This article presents me with a plausible alternative...

-- rebound depression after removing the Zoloft
-- depression emerging due to SSRI poopout prior to removing the Zoloft

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i need better concentration to read the transcript but will go back to it for sure. this is very a propos for me right now and i've had a hard time with researching myself (besides a vast amount of stuff "on the proverbial pile" to be researched).

Anyway thank you so much. Even the excerpt posted provided additional food for thought.



~ waves ~

[Mari]

Waves,


The summer of sleep problems you describe sounds awful. 'Good to hear that the Zoloft has cleared.


I have not read through the transcript either. But I am intrigued about how depressives dream more than other people . . .
. . . causing them to be more depressed ----- I think I got that part right )

I will wait until the weekend to watch parts of the 51 min video. Sometimes hearing the words w/ pics adds to what I capture from a reading.

M

[waves]

Hi...

Not sure it was clear in my post that this summer when having those sx i was on a stable Zoloft dose (not increasing or decreasing). Yet the sx resembled those i have when i increase it. In fact, I went nuts looking for something that might interact with Zoloft (esp. the newcomer, Topamax) but found *nothing* in that regard - i even asked at the pharmacy.

i withdrew the drug dragually for other reasons completely (poss. hyponatremia) - in that sense it is good it is gone.

I continued to have the sx. and then clued into geez maybe its sleep deprivation.

Removing the Zoloft may have worsened my situation moodwise and possibly sleepwise, as I've since been dealing with worse depression and i have not had a followup session. i have not been able to discuss with a professional - esp. the same professional who endorsed my coming off it and was aware of the potential hyponatremia. I've really just been trying to ease my way through, telling myself my brain needs adjustment time, it will happen. Lately I make sure i get enough tryptophan in my diet (as in 100%+ daily) which is not hard. There isn't a whole lot more i can do unless i want to sub the drug and I don't. But it's been... and continues to be ... very hard.

======================

Fwiw, the past two days, after a day of paroxysmal migraines, i was exhausted and have slept tones - getting maybe 6 hrs at night aqnd another 6 in naps during the day. but i still dream tones and also like "wake-dream?" - it is a bit like my thoughts are racing and it maybe the topamax.

all this stuff is clear as mud. i am reading this transcript now.

ps. Mari i'm sorry i put these things here. I'm sorry i can't bear to start a thread. i'm sorry. i'm so sorry forgive me. [edited to say i removed bits i was uncomfortable with.]

[bizi]

Dear waves,
I read what you wrote and I just wanted you to know that I feel so badly that you are having such a hard time right now.
I am sorry.....
(((((HUGS)))))

[Mari]

Originally Posted by waves

Hi...


ps. Mari i'm sorry i put these things here. I'm sorry i can't bear to start a thread. i'm sorry. i'm so sorry forgive me. maybe i'll delete it late.r

Dear Waves,

This is the perfect spot to put a post. Please.

I am exhausted to write a response. I send you lots and lots of hugs. You are brave. Keep yourself safe.

M

[waves]

Dear Bizi

Thanks so much for your support. (((hugs)))

~ waves ~

[waves]

Dear Mari

Thank you for understanding. No need to worry about a specific response. I had started out just wanting to clarify that my sleep sx were not caused by increasing or decreasing zoloft. then i kinda went on...

Anyway, I just edited out the bits i was uncomfortable with having in the post.

oh btw, i still haven't finished that darned article it is so dilute i kept getting distracted. i'm almost done. i actually think you got most or all of the bit on depression in what you quoted.

~ waves ~

[Mari]

Dear Waves,

. . . thinking about you in times of transition . . .

M

[mymorgy]

dear waves
wanted to type the obvious....i care so much
love
bobby