Oversleep - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

blizzak · 07-12-2005, 12:43 PM

hey all,
Does anyone have any concrete medical information about oversleep? I've been working 6 pm - 2:30 am (although sometimes till 9:30 am)at my summer job and have had this problem of not getting up as early as I want to. I usually sleep for about 10-12 hours. Besides being unproductive in the days, I was wondering if there were any adverse medical conditions related to sleeping this long.

I know that my circadian rhythms are totally screwed up, and people wanting to adhere to natural patterns on the weekend doesn't help me much at all either. I've searched google a bunch and come up with very little.

Thanks in advance

Jinn · 07-13-2005, 05:32 AM

No, as a matter of fact oversleeping is a myth. I've had this argument with many people before who claim that when they sleep "too much" they feel groggy and unproductive. If you've slept 12 hours and still feel this way, then you are not getting ENOUGH sleep. Pyschologists and sleep-therapists have a term they use in situations like this called sleep debt. As your week goes on if you're not getting enough sleep (per your age and circadian rythmn) you're amassing a "debt" of sleep that your body still needs to catch up on to feel "rested." So if you sleep 12 hours and you're still tired, it means your debt was actually more than that -- and you need MORE sleep. However, drugs like caffeine and nicotine hide this and people don't realize what their circadian rythmns are telling them.

I should note, however, that it is not entirely sleep LENGTH that determines how tired you are. If you can achieve deep (delta) and REM sleep enough, your body will accept lesser amounts of sleep in exchange for quality. It's quite an intricate machine we've got....

I hope that helps..

Jinn · 07-13-2005, 05:36 AM

After I re-read that, I realized it might have been approached wth some incredulity, so I attached a few links to further explain:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_debt

http://www.sleepquest.com/d_column_archive6.html

http://www.sleepfoundation.org/hotto...secid=8&id=222

.. I could list more but searching google for "sleep debt" or "sleep need" should return a plethora of information. Sleep debt is linked to obesity too!

Redlemon · 07-13-2005, 05:47 AM

I can't find the damned link again, but I was just reading on some blog about a digital watch that serves to wake you up at the "right" time, based on the time you go to sleep, around when you want to wake up, and I think it monitors something to hit you at the right part of some rhythm thing. Sorry I can't be more specific, I'll try to report back later.

djflish · 07-13-2005, 06:57 AM

I've seen an alarm clock that wakes you up naturally, so you don't feel groggy.
It has a ball on top which is like a big light bulb. Say you set the alarm for 7:00am, the bulb will gradually getting brighter and brighter before the time you set the alarm, to bring you round at the right time.
Its supposed to trick your body into thinking it is dawn and it wakes you up gradually, instead of being shocked awake by a loud noise.

blizzak · 07-13-2005, 09:58 AM

hmm, well thanks for the information all
after searching google for "oversleep" enough, I discovered that there is actually a condition known as hypersomnia:

http://www.psychnet-uk.com/dsm_iv/hypersomnia.htm

They say on that site that it may relate to shiftwork, since your rhythms get all messed up. I've been having the worst headaches lately too...I guess the key here is just to force yourself to get up, which is what I haven't been doing. I'm not sure if I actually have that condition, but I guess i'll just try my best to avoid sleeping too long.

And a word of advice to everyone: shift work sucks. It's much better to be forced into being a morning person than having to creep around the only time you feel awake so you don't wake the family.

07-12-2005, 12:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
blizzak Crazy	Oversleep hey all, Does anyone have any concrete medical information about oversleep? I've been working 6 pm - 2:30 am (although sometimes till 9:30 am)at my summer job and have had this problem of not getting up as early as I want to. I usually sleep for about 10-12 hours. Besides being unproductive in the days, I was wondering if there were any adverse medical conditions related to sleeping this long. I know that my circadian rhythms are totally screwed up, and people wanting to adhere to natural patterns on the weekend doesn't help me much at all either. I've searched google a bunch and come up with very little. Thanks in advance __________________ Fueled by oxytocin!

07-13-2005, 05:32 AM	#2 (permalink)
Jinn Lover - Protector - Teacher Location: Seattle, WA	No, as a matter of fact oversleeping is a myth. I've had this argument with many people before who claim that when they sleep "too much" they feel groggy and unproductive. If you've slept 12 hours and still feel this way, then you are not getting ENOUGH sleep. Pyschologists and sleep-therapists have a term they use in situations like this called sleep debt. As your week goes on if you're not getting enough sleep (per your age and circadian rythmn) you're amassing a "debt" of sleep that your body still needs to catch up on to feel "rested." So if you sleep 12 hours and you're still tired, it means your debt was actually more than that -- and you need MORE sleep. However, drugs like caffeine and nicotine hide this and people don't realize what their circadian rythmns are telling them. I should note, however, that it is not entirely sleep LENGTH that determines how tired you are. If you can achieve deep (delta) and REM sleep enough, your body will accept lesser amounts of sleep in exchange for quality. It's quite an intricate machine we've got.... I hope that helps.. __________________ "I'm typing on a computer of science, which is being sent by science wires to a little science server where you can access it. I'm not typing on a computer of philosophy or religion or whatever other thing you think can be used to understand the universe because they're a poor substitute in the role of understanding the universe which exists independent from ourselves." - Willravel

07-13-2005, 05:36 AM	#3 (permalink)
Jinn Lover - Protector - Teacher Location: Seattle, WA	After I re-read that, I realized it might have been approached wth some incredulity, so I attached a few links to further explain: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_debt http://www.sleepquest.com/d_column_archive6.html http://www.sleepfoundation.org/hotto...secid=8&id=222 .. I could list more but searching google for "sleep debt" or "sleep need" should return a plethora of information. Sleep debt is linked to obesity too! __________________ "I'm typing on a computer of science, which is being sent by science wires to a little science server where you can access it. I'm not typing on a computer of philosophy or religion or whatever other thing you think can be used to understand the universe because they're a poor substitute in the role of understanding the universe which exists independent from ourselves." - Willravel

07-13-2005, 05:47 AM	#4 (permalink)
Redlemon Devoted Donor Location: New England	I can't find the damned link again, but I was just reading on some blog about a digital watch that serves to wake you up at the "right" time, based on the time you go to sleep, around when you want to wake up, and I think it monitors something to hit you at the right part of some rhythm thing. Sorry I can't be more specific, I'll try to report back later. __________________ I can't read your signature. Sorry.

07-13-2005, 06:57 AM	#5 (permalink)
djflish The Mighty Boosh Location: I mostly come out at night, mostly...	I've seen an alarm clock that wakes you up naturally, so you don't feel groggy. It has a ball on top which is like a big light bulb. Say you set the alarm for 7:00am, the bulb will gradually getting brighter and brighter before the time you set the alarm, to bring you round at the right time. Its supposed to trick your body into thinking it is dawn and it wakes you up gradually, instead of being shocked awake by a loud noise. __________________ Europes two great narcotics, Alcohol and Christianity. I know which one I prefer.

07-13-2005, 09:58 AM	#6 (permalink)
blizzak Crazy	hmm, well thanks for the information all after searching google for "oversleep" enough, I discovered that there is actually a condition known as hypersomnia: http://www.psychnet-uk.com/dsm_iv/hypersomnia.htm They say on that site that it may relate to shiftwork, since your rhythms get all messed up. I've been having the worst headaches lately too...I guess the key here is just to force yourself to get up, which is what I haven't been doing. I'm not sure if I actually have that condition, but I guess i'll just try my best to avoid sleeping too long. And a word of advice to everyone: shift work sucks. It's much better to be forced into being a morning person than having to creep around the only time you feel awake so you don't wake the family. __________________ Fueled by oxytocin!