The reasons why we feel sad at night

There is something about the warm rays of sunshine seeping through gaping curtains that seem to calm the internal chaos of one's mind, even if that very mind was particularly agitated the previous night. The emerging sun seems to not only illuminate the buildings and trees basking in it, but also our mood, even if only temporarily. 

You may have had the sneaking suspicion that night time often leaves us sadder than usual, and you're not alone in this.

The night gives us plenty of time for self-reflection. After a long day, we are finally all by ourselves. During this time, our brains are guilty of entrapping us in the rabbit hole of old tormenting memories which then become intrusive to our peace. We end up ruminating over the little things and painful regrets only to find momentary respite in scrolling through our phones.

Once we close our eyes, the nagging thoughts reappear and we remain cruelly deprived of a good night's rest. 

Most people have incredibly complicated lives and these recurring, racing thoughts at night are just part of the fallible human experience. It isn't always easy for one to keep unpleasant emotions beyond the fences when the tracks of our mind keep us coming back to them. Still, it is important to make sure we are doing all that is possible to not make this harder than it has to be.

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This means steering clear of our phones during bedtime to avoid wasting time and more importantly, to avoid being exposed to the blue light emitted from electronic devices. This blue light can be extremely detrimental to our sleep and eyesight concurrently, setting us up for a wrecked sleeping routine and moodier waking hours. Additionally, having caffeinated beverages even a few hours before bed can also wreak havoc on our mental well-being and dock off precious hours of sleep, replacing them with anxiety and sorrow.

Part of the reason why daylight feels so rejuvenating is that coming into contact with sunlight prompts our body to release hormones into our brains that make us feel happier and safer. Problems that may have seemed overbearing at night might appear to shrink the next morning. This, however, should not allow us to forget that some of our lifestyle choices if allowed to prevail, may increasingly make us more vulnerable.

While experiencing sadness at night may not always be due to depression, it is an indicator of some form of mental affliction or emotional need that needs addressing. Pay due attention to the indications, atone for bad habits and get help if needed. Your sleep cycle will surely be grateful and you won't need to wait for the sun to put your mind to rest. 

Irina needs to make peace with her spontaneous need for cold coffee. Send your advice and suggestions for her at irinajahan17@gmail.com