Depression From Working Nights

[lal18]

My husband has a rotating job so that means he works 2 weeks days and 2 weeks nights.He's fine working during the day. But when he goes to nights, he says he feels really depressed.He says he cannot help it, and most of the time has to cry and feels like just quitting. He can't control it.He just started the job a few months ago and doesn't want to leave but he says he has to.He says he cannot take it anymore.I feel bad listening to him cry over the phone when he calls me.Does anyone think this is depression or something that has to do with his sleeping pattern?

[ProdigalGirl]

Just a thought but... maybe a weird case of "seasonal affective disorder"...something along that that line??? Many people get this when they don't get enough sunlight during the winter months.
Perhaps this man is sleeping through the crucial part of the day when his body needs the sunlight?? I am not a doctor... I don't know... just a thought?? In any case,, he should see a doctor for the depression for professional advice.



ProdigalGirl

[opus88]

hi, I worked shift work for 20 yrs. days to nights should NOT be a difficult transition...its a good rotation...however that being said there are alot of people that CANNOT work night shifts..sleep problems, eating problems, depression, even upset bowels d/t change in routine...
he probably isn't sleeping well enough during the day thus gets very tired and emotional at night....
does he have any chance at his place of employment to go on steady days?
If not than he has to find away to sleep better and adjust or must certainly find another job before he does have a major breakdown.
good luck.

[whodunnit]

Hi,

You say he's fine when he works during the day but the reverse working nights. That fits no pattern I'm aware of as depression isn't 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off. It's full time or no time.

There is no doubt though that the disturbance to sleep patterns is a critical factor in a developing depression. Regular and erratic sleep patterns will likely develop and my guess on what you've told us is that he hasn't adjusted to the night time work needs as yet. In other words he may not be sleeping enough during the day and is constantly tired and touchy the whole time he is on nights.

Many people do work shifts and all of them take time to adjust from one shift to another. Some work different hours each day, let alone just every 2 weeks so it's something many people deal with.

I'd suggest he talks to others he works with or tries to find an online forum for shift workers so he can talk to anonymous people. There's boung to be such a forum.

Whatever is the current situation it would appear things can only deteriorate unless he does adjust to the regular changes. A doc would be helpful with that too. But do not persist with such a job if things just get worse as eventually he will not be able to work at all if things continue downhill.

[Hensley258]

That's a tough call. He feels fine working in day time, but goes depressed working night shift?

He could just be the type that has depression that is regulated by sunlight. (I forget the name of it, but there is a name for this type of depression)

In most cases if a person is suffering Major Depressive dissorder, they will feel like **** no matter what their sleeping patterns are or what hours they are working.

Now for a person that suffers major depression, having a shift schedule like your husband would make things worse for them. Then again you said your husband feels fine working day shifts so you can't really put him in that catagory.

I just have to think that if your husband was suffering major depression that he would feel very depressed and anxious all the time. Major depression doesn't take a break during the daytime. It's a 24/7 destroyer.

Regardless of what it is, I think it would be wise for him to try very hard to find a day time job. (I know that's not easy in this job market)