Rangsk

I find it difficult to get sympathy for my problem, since most people have trouble getting enough sleep, but I DO think it's a problem.

I'm 19 years old, and if I just let myself sleep, then usually I will sleep for 16+ hours. I will usually wake up around 12 hours into it because I have to pee, but then fall back to sleep without even getting up to do that. Then around 4 hours later, it gets so bad that I force myself out of bed in order to urinate... after that I have no problems staying up. If I set my alarm, there's a 50% chance that I'll sleep through it, even if it's blaring (my alarm turns itself off after an hour). Really, what I want to know is why I get so much sleep. It's distressing to wake up and realize you've missed pretty much the whole day, and I don't even feel refreshed afterwards. Not to mention how badly is screws up my sleep schedule... it's tough to go to bed at midnight when you woke up at 6pm!

Sure, I could probably wake up to an alarm even on days where I don't have to be anywhere, but it would be nice to be able to sleep naturally and not sleep for so long. I seriously think that I have a problem, but I don't know if it's true or if I'm just the laziest man of all time

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TopRamen66

Oh God man, I used to be able to do that too. One time I woke up and realized I was wasting my life away. I dont have any technical answers for you or anything, but just put yourself on a schedual. Get a job that starts at 8 in the morning, or if you're still in school schedual all your classes early in the morning. You'll thank yourself.

hannukah harry

i used to do that. it could be a sign of depression. basically, find something that you will have to be up for, if you've got to get up for something, you're more likely to get up for it.

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Phaenx

Cut it out.

There, problem solved.

But just for the heck of it, lets try something else. What worked for me was getting a job, going to school, starting a business, and going to the gym for 1-2 hours a day. Especially that working out jazz, by 10pm, I'm completely shattered.

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Yakk

Set 4 alarms to make yourself get up.

Do a workout in the mornings. Your body might wake up up in time for it. =)

If all else fails, see a doctor. If you are actually sleeping 16 hours / day, you might have a problem.

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Last edited by JHVH : 10-29-4004 BC at 09:00 PM. Reason: Time for a rest.

raeanna74

I used to be able to do that. Mostly is was when I was anemic. I found that if I forced myself to get up though after 8 hours that once I woke up I didn't really feel tired. After you get yourself to a schedule it helps. The depression idea may be something else to look into. I know hubby seemed like he slept all the time when he was going through some mild depression. So look into:
Anemia
Depression
Make a schedule
But most of all - I would suggest seeing a Dr. There could be a number of things contributing to you feeling like sleeping so much. The Dr is the best equipped to figure that all out.
Good Luck

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My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

evilbeefchan

Do you exercise, Rangsk? I've noticed that when now that I workout normally, I have had no problems with my sleeping schedule. I used to be able to pull off those 14+ hour power naps, and still felt tired. But then I started walking, lifting some weights, and I found myself sleeping much better.

Rangsk

Ok, thanks for the advice. I do work out frequently - I ride my bike a lot, ballroom dance 4 times a week, and lift weights (w/some cardio beforehand) every other day.

I don't think that I'm depressed, but it's certaintly possible. However, that would mean that I've been depressed for several years now.

My schedule this quarter requires me to be up before 9 nearly every week-day, however actually making it to class can be a problem. In highschool I had to get up at 6:30, ended up usually jumping out of bed at 7, going to school, actually waking up by 10, and then on weekends I'd sleep for 12-16 hours per night. When I had a summer job that required me to get up by 7, I exhibited similar traits.

I will try setting multiple alarms, but I'm not stupid when I just wake up (no one implied that I was), in fact I'm rather cunning / deceptive to myself. I will know that there are 4 alarms set, and readily ignore the first 3, and then will not have much of a problem convincing myself that the 4th doesn't really matter either.

I HAVE tried setting the alarm far away from me, thus requiring me to get out of bed to turn it off, which worked during finals week. However, I'm afraid that I'll get used to that, too, and I definately want to reserve that trick for when it's really important for me to get up, such as finals week or if I'm flying somewhere.

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evilbeefchan

Maybe you can set up a <a href="http://www.rube-goldberg.com/" target="_new">Rube Goldberg</a> type alarm clock. Have the alarm on full blast, which will awaken and scare a nearby crow into it's house. The weight of the crow + house will cause it to pull a rope connected to the shower knobs. The knobs will turn, blasting the water on full power, drenching a sleeping dog. The dog will then jump onto the nearest dry surface, your bed. Because nobody likes being awakened by a wet, smelly dog.

Or maybe it's just normal, and you have nothing to worry about. You should still give the wet dog alarm clock a try. You know, just for kicks. Try it on a family member. They'll love ya for it!

Edit: Nevermind, Rube already came up with one himself. <a href="http://www.geocities.com/EnchantedForest/Cottage/6102/rube-links.html" target="_new">Automatic Alarm Clock</a> From what I can tell, it involves a bird, and a bowling ball.

apeman

I used to have a light on a timeswitch - it's much nicer to be awakened by a bright light than an annoying beepy alarm clock.

do you sleep like that all year round? cos daylight is supposed to alter your body clock, so people tend to sleep a bit less in the summer.

I'd go and get an expert opinion for sure.

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raeanna74

One more thought - I found in college that if I slept past 10:00 on weekends I would end up feeling more tired than ever. Maybe you can find a specific time that is best for you to wake up at? Have the coffemaker going and get a ritual for yourself that you can look forward to in the morning. Me I get my coffee and turn on the TV to news if the daughter isn't up begging for cartoons. Just makes the waking up part a little slower and less traumatic. Either that or find a girl who can wake you up REAL nice.

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My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

agball

I would see a doctor or try to force yourself into 8-10 hours of sleep per night. Do this for a week or so & see if you are tired after having 8-10 hours. If you are exhusted from this, I would see a doctor.

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StephenSa

Maybe you could schedule meeting friends or something at a certain time in the morning. Not Standing someone up that you care about may give you the incentive to rise and shine. I feel your pain though. I am throughorly a night person so getting up in the morning has always been a problem for me. I still hate it but off to work one must go. Anyhoo, try the friend thing, combined with multiple alarm thing, combined with alarm far away thing. Sometimes sleeping is a way to avoid problems in ones life so think if you are avoiding facing something. Wish I could help more, the doctor thing may be a way to go.

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Yakk

Rangsk, at some level you have to decide to stop sleeping in.

The alarm clock goes off, you simply get up and start going. Don't even consider staying in bed. It is your mind, not someone else's, you get to make the decisions.

Now, it is possible you have some kind of condition that makes you need that much sleep. It is also possible your body is just used to that much sleep, and once broken of the habit, will be fully functional.

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Last edited by JHVH : 10-29-4004 BC at 09:00 PM. Reason: Time for a rest.

SabrinaFair

(this is my first post on fitness, btw)

I had sort of the same problem my first semester. I slept all the damn time, even during class. I think part of my problem was nutritional--I was making poor eating choices and not getting any variety. Are you eating a variety of healthy foods? Are you taking a multivitamin?

Also, as said before, a schedule is good.
So is working out.
So is getting into the proper mindset.

Oh, and naps can help every now and then, but they shouldn't become a habit, or you start a vicious cycle.

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Be cheerful. Strive to be happy."
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G5_Todd

before you goto bed drink a HUGE glass of water......


u will wake up and will have to pee.....and u will get up


military uses this when on a field op....they will drink a canteen full of water...its the bodies natural alarm clock...

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redarrow

before you go to bed pour that huge glass of water on the bed! the sheer coldness of the bed will keep you awake all night and you will be glad to jump out of bed in the morning. you may actually wake up earlier than expected!

Mobo

Actually, what it sounds like is that you have sleep apnea. you say you are getting lots of sleep but not feeling rested. That's a classic sign of it. ( i should know, i suffer from it)

Do a google search on sleep apnea, and see your doctor about getting a sleep study done.

strife

I use to sleep like that all the time as well, and was always tired too. Except now, I get up just about everyday around 7am, am engerized for maybe an hour, and by 830am-5pm I'm yawning and trying my hardest not to fall asleep.

I agree with the previous posters that you just need to get out of bed. JUST DO IT.

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strife

inphaseneverb4

i agree that it's a sign of depression. you may not even think you are depressed but are. antidepressants have helped me have a better attitude and more regular sleep paterns

irseg

I was like that when I was in college, I was depressed because I hated it so much. There was nothing I was particularly interested in getting out of bed for, so I didn't.

Dropping out, getting a good job, and starting a business sent me to the other extreme. A lot of times I'll only get 3 hours of sleep or so, and I get pissed that I'm wasting that much time.

matteo101

I know that you can probably just tell yourself to wake up and get out of bed but there is also the problem of your body being able to easily sleep 16 hours without any problems. So seeing the doctor may be an option. Something that helped me get out of bed and up for the day was the Mcdonalds breakfast. It is only served until 11am. So I would have to wake up early to get it. At that point I would shower, get dressed etc, and by the time I got there I was ready for the day. I would do that once or twice a week, and it would start to become a ritual. If you can find something else like that, that you enjoy doing then that might help.

jay-g

I agree. Chronic fatigue are symptoms of many things. Go to the dr, and tell he/she your sleeping habits. There is a difference between, a person who like to sleep, and a person that cant help it.

stevie667

a few possibilities, may sound a little bizare, but hey.

since your only 19, it may be entirely possible that your just sleeping longer naturally, if you were late entering puberty, then you may find that it's finally settling out. as we all know, teenagers have the great ability to sleep for hours on end, mostly because the body is growing and doing all it's odds and ends.
you said that this has been going on for several years, in which case it could easily be a natural phase.

what type of diet are you on? high protein, high veg, low carb e.t.c? diets can often make a difference in the way the body metabolises energy and releases hormones, both of which easily affect sleeping cycles.

your probably feeling un-refreshed because of the large amount of sleep that the body is getting. once the body recuperates sleep debts built up, further sleep only helps to decrease metaboltic rates and generally turn off your mind. try getting a sterio on a timer and setting it to go off after about 8-12 hours sleep.

if you have been sleeping this long, then your bodys circadian rhythm has established itself in a way that keeps you sleeping longer. You need the break the bodys sleep patterns and re-establish a norm before you can start sleeping better. like i said before, try making yourself wake up after a normal nights sleep for a few weeks, and then see if you can sleep any easier.

however, a visit to the doc to discuss matters can never go awry, but sleep is something that can be affected by so many different variables, especially through the years during and imediatly after puberty that it might just very well be your mind making you sleep, and your body taking along for the easy ride.

Rangsk

Thanks for all the advice everyone.

Recently I've been having to get up at 8am to get to class on time every weekday, and it has made some difference. However, now I just feel tired really early and I'm exhausted by 9 or 10pm. I usually like to stay up until at least midnight or 1am (and some weekdays I have dance practice from 9-11pm). I shall perservere, though.

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EleqTrizi'T

My wife will sleep until I wake her up. It's been a problem for 5 years. I would literally yell at her to go see a doctor about it, because it wasn't right.

FINALLY, she did. She's anemic (low-iron levels in the blood). She started a pill program Monday, we'll see how it goes.

bing bing

A doctor will refer you to the appropriate professionals. You'll probably need to visit a sleep lab.