Which stage of depression is hypersomnia associated with?

Excessive sleepiness is not a specific stage-related manifestation of depression, but rather one of the common sleep disturbances associated with depression. It may occur at any stage of the illness and is related to individual physical constitution and severity of the condition; thus, it is not a core indicator for assessing disease progression. If excessive sleepiness is accompanied by persistent low mood and other depressive symptoms that impair normal functioning, timely medical evaluation is recommended.

Sleepiness caused by depression reflects emotional low mood and lack of energy manifesting in sleep patterns. Due to inner exhaustion and loss of interest in activities, patients may use excessive sleep as a way to escape reality. However, this sleep is often shallow and fails to effectively restore energy, potentially worsening feelings of fatigue.

Excessive sleepiness can appear during the early, middle, or recovery phases of depression. In the initial phase, it may result from emotional distress disrupting sleep rhythms. During the middle phase, it might become more pronounced as symptoms worsen. Some patients may still experience sleepiness during recovery due to medication side effects or bodily adjustments. Therefore, there is no necessary correlation between sleepiness and a specific disease stage.

Maintaining regular sleep habits—avoiding late nights or oversleeping—by setting consistent bedtime and wake-up times, engaging in mild daytime activities such as walking, reducing time spent resting in bed, and consuming adequate high-quality protein and vitamins can help regulate sleep rhythms.