Can working graveyard lead to depression?

So, I work graveyard, and it makes me wonder if I am becomding depressed or something. Has this happened to anyone else?

I'm not crazy & don't want an answer of "go check it out with a psychologist" or something. I want answers from people who HAVE WORKED GRAVEYARD SHIFTS!!!

Working graveyard (midnight to 8am) works best with my schedule, but on some days I find myself sleeping the rest of the day.. and it makes me sad because..

1. I have people that I want to call, and the offices close at 5 (which is about when I wake up sometimes) so I never contact the people I need to.

2. some stores close at 5pm and I want to shop at them!

3. sometimes I feel like my tiny little boy wonders "why does mommy sleep all day?"

then, I only see darkness (pretty much) with winter, the sun goes down around 5.. so it seems depressing!

Has anyone else just worked graveyard and got depressed, or is it NOT depression, just an "emotion" that comes along with working grave.

Thanks!

It can be depressing because you feel like you have been cut off from the world and your friends and family. Try to stay positive, workout, make friends with people you work with who r goin thru the same thing. I dont think you are clinically depressed and need medication, but sure it will get you down a lil. Whenever you get to the point where it is unbearable just take a personal day or a vacation day and do something fun w/ur friends or family.

No it shouldnt. i wouldnt lead to it. if you have a strong will no, weak i dk.

You may very well be depressed, yes I would think that may trigger it because you're alone during that shift if im not mistaken and that means you dont interact at all socially so it's understandable that it would be a big wihtdrawl for you I hope this helps

graveyard shift can definatly cause depression, its not natural for most people to be up all night.

The lack of a social life, combined with rarely seeing the sun, can get you down. When I worked graveyard shifts, I stayed awake after my shift, hung out with friends, and got some sunlight.

Moochy nailed it pretty much dead on, I can say from personal experience. I don't know if it's necessarily depression in the clinical sense, but it still has a very real effect on one's life. With the drastically different schedule, you may as well be living on a different planet than your friends and family. That sense of detachment from the world was the worst thing for me, it's awfully lonely. Waking up to darkness doesn't do much for the psyche, either.

I have just started working graveyard shifts and it does seem to get depressing yes. Since I started it was ok, but about 4 days in I have been sleeping the whole day right after work and not wakeing up until 930pm an hour before i need to go to work. So yes it can be depressing. But there are things that you can do that will make you happyier and even get you more energized for your child. I would suggest doing a small work out after you wake up before work, and getting a good meal in before work, Since your wakeing up its still a good idea to eat breakfast foods because your body will make better use of it then a lunch or dinner food. I like to eat oatmeal during the day as it gives me energy and helps you stay full longer. So yes it can be depressing to work those night shifts, but you can always find ways to get out of being depressed.

I worked the night shift in a hospital for a year. I slept from 8 am to about 3 or so. i felt depressed; nothing was the same. My whole life was off track. Sometimes I had to stay a double shift and then come back at 11...i was a zombie. I went months without seeing my friends, I never saw my girlfriend. Finally, I just quit.