*While there are many physical aspects of sleep apnea, there are also psychological ones, and they may be more subtle to identify and accurately diagnose. The first aspect we see in this condition is that the person does not receive a restful night’s sleep. The reason we need sufficient sleep is because the body needs a certain amount of sleep to restore, repair and recharge the body’s major organs right down to the cellular level. If this doesn’t happen, the person will feel fatigue in the morning. Daytime drowsiness occurs, and this overwhelming desire to sleep will stay with the person throughout the day.

Lack of sleep due to sleep apnea will cause frustration and irritability, as the person needs to stay awake to operate their daily tasks. Problems with concentration and memory loss are also common pshchological aspects of sleep apnea. All of these emotions will add up and provoke a growing sense of depression. The person may even feel like they are losing their mind, as their ability to think clearly is reduced.  The only desire may be to stay in bed and get the rest they think they need, when in reality, they should be getting treatment for their sleep apnea.

In extreme cases, the psychological effects of sleep apnea may include thoughts of suicide. If the brain is continually not getting enough oxygen night after night, the quality and purpose of a person’s life steadily drops. Antidepressant drugs are not efficient in this case, ither, because the medical condition of sleep apnea needs to be diagnosed and effectively treated first.

Depression and Snoring