Friday, January 11, 2008

I haven't been to Africa

I think I have a sleeping sickness. Sleep is a coping mechanism for me when I am depressed. My whole family is like that actually. Most people toss and turn, I sleep like a baby. And keep on sleeping. But I am not depressed right now. My kids are doing great, I just got a new position at work, the BF is wonderful as usual, I am downright giddy! And yet, I sleep.

I come home from work most days in a hurry to take a nap. Can't wait, love it, actually. But I am not one of those lay my head down, snooze for a half hour and wake up refreshed people. I sleep about three hours, sometimes more. When I wake up I am awake for a couple of hours and then it is back to bed for the night.

I am a night person by nature. If given the chance my hours would probably be reversed from most of the rest of the world. I struggle with getting up in the morning and frequently will try to make sure I get to bed early to make sure I have plenty of sleep and wake up feeling good in the morning. But it seems that no matter what time I go to bed the night before, I have trouble getting out of bed in the morning. Or in the afternoon which the case may be on the weekend.

Today was not unusual. I got home from work at about 5:45, and by 6:15 I was laying down on
the couch for a nap. I woke up about 8:00pm, got up to go to the bathroom and then it was right back down in a groggy heap on the couch where I fell right back to sleep until 10:30.

I know the best thing I can do is to keep a regular schedule. Get up at the same time every day, go to bed at the same time every night, and no napping. Somehow I am never able to achi
eve that, the call of the nap is so tempting and I am so weak willed. But as a result I can sleep hours upon hours and am never fully refreshed. Plus, on the weekend, it's not unusual for me to sleep past noon and get very little done during the day. And to make matters worse, if I allowed myself to do it - I could sleep past noon, get up, be awake for a couple of hours and be ready to sleep again. I rarely allow myself to do that, but when I have - I have slept away whole days.

I haven't been to Africa, haven't picked up any funky little parasites lately, yet I seem to just want to sleep. A lot. And really, I'm not depressed! I promise! I have thyroid meds but really the
doctor says they are practically unnecessary so I suspect he is just placating me. The last time I went to see him I handed him a list of all my complaints and told him I was tired of it, pun not intended, and told him to fix it. I also told him it was his fault, just for good measure.

I guess his Honey-do list is longer than I thought cause it sure isn't fixed yet.

I would like to feel awake like most people do, have energy and get things done. It's a vicious circle, because I know exercise would help. But who can exercise when they are napping? Okay, this is turning into whining and I don't want to do that. But I really would like to feel normal. I know doggone well that I'm not suddenly going to discover more hours in the day, or wake up one day to discover that morning has been moved to later on in the day. It's always going to be early. Sigh-h-h.

Time to go to bed. Nite y'all!

*Just a thought; is it possible I am morphing into a cat? Just askin'.

8 comments:

  1. Is it just the time of year ? Not so much light so why not sleep , its a normal bodily reaction , thats what I tell myself anyway . Of course you too could get a greyhound who would get you up at five am and take you out for walks but really whats the problem with sleeping ?!

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  2. I'm much the same way. I would take a nap every day if my kids would let me. I could sleep days away too. Let me know if you find a magic cure, because I could use it too.

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  3. No advice here, sorry. I'm becoming the exact same way!

    Over Winter break, we often slept until ten or eleven in the morning. NEVER happens around here (three kids, ages 9, 6 and 4 - our house is awake by 7:30 EVERY DAY!)... I was in for MAJOR trouble when we all had to go back to school... I STILL haven't adjusted!!!

    I always tell my husband that I could sleep 24 hours straight and lately, I really don't think I'm kidding. What's up?????

    Nighty, Nite!!!!

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  4. Well, I was going to suggest the thyroid thing, but youve done that already too - I too could sleep about 20 hours a day if it were possible to - and drop off anytime Im allowed to sit still long enough.....What would Doc think about sending you off for a sleep study? Maybe when you are asleep, you arent really asleep - or rather, in that brain wave pattern needed for a real rest?? Hang in there!

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  5. Oh I'd love to be a cat!! I had a sleeping sickness over Christmas - not sure about now my tooth has messed it all up ;)

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  6. I'm exactly the same way and I must say it's a relief to find out from these comments that it's not just me and you Bettejo!

    Exercise every day of some sort kinda helps me, but I *still* don't wanna get up in the morning EVER.

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  7. okay...so I do believe everything I read...

    how funny, and I thought your daughter had a cute little pet...hehehe

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  8. You may need a good dose of sunlight.
    I know I have been having a time of it this winter with the lack of wanting to do anything...

    and I know it is not my thyroid meds because I am hyper not hypo! Can't blame that one on my doctor...

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