Depression Support Group
Depression is a real and debilitating condition that is often misunderstood by family and friends. Its meaning can range from a prolonged period of sadness to an actual mental illness with specific symptoms. Find and share experiences with others who are going through the same struggles.
Hello,
Lately I've been feeling so tired. My mood is not too bad but I can't get much done because I wake up really late and stay drowsy for 3 hours after I wake up. I basically feel like I need 10 hours of sleep and then stay drowsy until about 4 PM no matter how late I wake up or how many hours I sleep. I can't sleep at night because my sleep cycle was altered from staying up too many nights studying.
I'm on summer break from school. I was hoping to do so much this summer but I'm getting so demoralized and hopeless because I'm always so tired. I struggle even to brush my teeth or take a shower.
What do you guys and girls do when you feel exhausted? What works for you to change your sleep cycle?
Thanks so much for any suggestions,
M.
Lately I've been feeling so tired. My mood is not too bad but I can't get much done because I wake up really late and stay drowsy for 3 hours after I wake up. I basically feel like I need 10 hours of sleep and then stay drowsy until about 4 PM no matter how late I wake up or how many hours I sleep. I can't sleep at night because my sleep cycle was altered from staying up too many nights studying.
I'm on summer break from school. I was hoping to do so much this summer but I'm getting so demoralized and hopeless because I'm always so tired. I struggle even to brush my teeth or take a shower.
What do you guys and girls do when you feel exhausted? What works for you to change your sleep cycle?
Thanks so much for any suggestions,
M.
I'm sorry you're struggling. I am also having difficulty with tiredness, which for me is a sure sign that I'm dealing with my depression again. When this happens there are several things that I do to help feel better:
1) If you take depression meds, make sure you are taking them regularly and at a set time each day. This will help a lot.
2) Work on getting your sleep cycle back to normal. Cut back on caffiene (and watch out--caffiene is in lots of things you wouldn't think of, like some medicines and chocolate!), try to go to bed a little earlier each night, try a warm shower or soothing bath, try natural treatments (I used lavender spray on my pillow--it really did help relax me).
3) Resist napping during the day as much as you can tolerate it. Napping can disrupt your sleep cycle.
4) Go to the doctor for a physical. Do you snore? If you do, you may have sleep apnea (I do) and this greatly contributes to disrupted sleep.
5) Get out in the sun and take walks.
Hope one of these suggestions will help you get some ZZZZZZs.
I do get more irregular in taking meds when I get more depressed and tired. My thinking gets fuzzy and my energy is so low that everything seems like a struggle. I will make it a point to take the meds first thing in the morning again, along with fish oil which helped in the past too.
I try to avoid caffeine during the day and go to bed pretty early, but I just stay watching TV unable to sleep until 5-7 in the morning. Warm baths don't make me sleepy anymore. Maybe because I'm used to taking a bath/shower every night before I go to bed.
Essential oils including lavender do not help me relax. Not sure why. If they help you, there is a brand that combines them nicely into bath oils and therapeutic aromatherapy products. It's a Swiss company but they sell their products here. Not sure where because I got them as gifts from my mom who lives in another country. This is their website if you want to check them out: http://www.swissjustusa.com/en/products.htm
I've checked my thyroid and other hormones, basic blood levels, etc. Everything is OK. I don't snore and my therapist says if I don't snore it is unlikely I have sleep apnea.
Getting out and doing things helps with my energy level, but it is hard without a car in the arizona summer with temperatures in the 3 digits every day all day until like 7 PM.
Getting started is also hard because I'm drowsy until like 4PM.
I appreciate your feedback and support. I will take your suggestion and be more regular with the meds and try to do relaxing things at night.
Thanks!
I do take a multivitamin for women. I stop taking it when I don't feel well. For some reason, I struggle swallowing the big pills. They also make me nauseated if I get any of the flavor on my tongue. This happens mostly when my mood is low. When I feel ok, I swallow them fine.
It's not easy to remember to take it or to keep up with any good habits when I feel down. It takes more energy and motivation than what I have. It's a struggle every day. I will try to do t though.
I know the only way to break this vicious cycle right now is to keep pushing myself to do things that are good for me, no matter how hard they seem.
Thanks. All the best to you,