People who suffer from depression oftentimes have a strong urge to stay in bed. Why do depressed people lie in bed? Sleep disturbance is almost universal in depression and likewise, there is a strong relationship between depression and avoidance.
If I can’t face life, then why try? If I don’t have the skills to manage what’s in my head and what’s in my world, then my thought becomes, “Why bother getting out of bed? Almost any activity or task becomes a painful ordeal. The thought of facing the day is daunting and people suffer from overwhelming thoughts of dread about the day ahead.
Beds are the location in the house most associated with inactivity. So we park ourselves there. Escaping our lives through excessive sleep or by spending a disproportionate amount of time in bed reinforces our beliefs that we can’t cope skillfully by managing things directly. And the cycle feeds itself. Participating in therapy teaches the coping skills you need to break the cycle.
Carrie
