Before I begin this post, I don’t mean to be a downer so near to Christmas. In fact, if you’d rather not read a post about anxiety and my sleeping issue, then feel free to skip reading this. I totally understand. I just thought I would write this to talk about what I’m going through and hopefully help anyone experiencing the same issue.
I’ve found that for a while now, I’ve been sleeping a lot during the day. I think this is for many reasons. For one thing, I don’t go out a lot because of my anxiety. This means that I’m not currently working and I have a lot of time to just sit around and think. This may seem like something a lot of you would love, but trust me, it’s not always very thrilling. I would much rather have a job than not work because anxiety gets in the way of me doing something I want to do. Anyway, back to the sleeping issue. I also think I sleep a lot during the day because I get bored. Let’s face it, I can only browse the web, watch Netflix, write, and read so much before I get tired of doing all of those things.
I don’t like sleeping so much. Without telling you my exact age, I’m between 20 and 35. I shouldn’t sleep as much as I do. It can be hard though to break the pattern and I think that anxiety can sometimes, plain and simple, tire a person out.
I’m not depressed, so I know that’s not one of the reasons I sleep so much. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I get sad and bummed that I struggle with anxiety and can’t do a lot of the things I want to, but I’m not ‘depressed’. I know from reading blogs and hearing about depression that it’s much more than feeling down once in a while.
Still though, the fact remains that I hate that I find myself sleeping a good portion of the day. I just get so bored sometimes and not being able to go outside (plus it’s winter) or do stuff due to my anxiety makes it hard not to just say to myself, “Well I might as well just go to sleep, there’s nothing else to do!”.
I’m going to try my hardest to stay up more during the day. I’m going to try to take that time I’d usually take sleeping and exercise instead.
What about you? Do you sleep a lot during the day due to anxiety or depression? If you do, don’t be ashamed, I know a little about what you’re going through.
Getting Through Anxiety 
I can understand this. Some days my anxiety/ panic attacks are so bad I feel physically and mentally tired the next day all I want to do is sleep. It’s exhausting
Yep, I totally agree. Sometimes after a stressful day or even moment, we just need to rest. I think resting is one thing but sometimes it just turns into something much more habit forming – like sleeping several times a day. Then, of course, it can ruin your sleep at night! It’s a vicious cycle!
I hope you’re doing well and enjoy the holidays!
I can definitely relate to this. My sleeping issues stem from anxiety, depression and migraines. Ugh!😕
I’m sorry. Hopefully you’ll get better soon and be able to sleep better!
Thank you!
You’re welcome!
Although I suffer from Insomnia I do have periods of Depression in which I sleep alot during the daytime. I don’t think it’s anything you should be ashamed of, if your body needs the rest then it needs the rest! Though honestly it might be due to boredom, when I was unemployed I was just so bored that I would stay in bed till the afternoon, I had no reason to get up so why not! I find exercising and trying to wake up at the same time every day helps x
I’m sorry, that sounds difficult to deal with.
Exactly! Sometimes I just have nothing to do and I just feel so…blah!
Maybe some small projects/hobbies might help 🙂
Thank you!
Happy Holidays, Lizzie!
I’m so glad I’m not the only one going through this. People think it must be great that, because I’m not working, I must have so much free time to relax but with anxiety the reality is far from ideal. I can only do so much in a day before I resort to sleeping and then I’m awake at Midnight and with so much energy to burn off. Routine is very important.
Exactly! Sometimes having too much down time gives you too much time to over think. Sometimes the best thing to do is to find something productive to get your mind off the negative!
Happy Holidays!
I’m with you & others – being unable to work is not fun! It’s one thing if you don’t have to work, I guess, but being unable to work due to an illness/disorder/health issue is so freakin’ different!!!
Sorry. I get frustrated to know that many people think it’s all sunshine & rainbows. I ran into similar misconceptions when I was working (my butt off, by the way) from home. (Not frustrated with you, obviously, but the idea of people misunderstanding our situations.)
I used to fall asleep, like clockwork, at around 3-4pm, before my doctor diagnosed my hypothyroidism. I also find that, because of the laundry list of meds I take now, I’m tired all. the. time.
So, sometimes it’s a combination of issues. I know when I’m depressed, I’m more tired than usual, but I also have no interest in doing things I normally love. The short days don’t help, I think, even if we don’t have depression issues.
I TOTALLY agree! Plus it makes me mad when people automatically chalk not working up to laziness or immaturity. I WANT to work, it’s just that my anxiety holds me back from getting out and doing so. I would love to be able to get out and work though or at least for now find a job to do from home. I do freelance a little though which is good!
It’s fantastic that you freelance! You’re keeping yourself “in the game” until you’re capable to, hopefully, work full/part-time.
Thank you and I agree! 🙂
I used to think that my propensity to sleep a lot was due to my depression, but then I realized anxiety had a huge role to play in that, too. I think (at least for me) it’s a way for my mind to relax and attempt to reset itself when I get overwhelmed (which happens more often than I’d like to admit for some of the most random reasons). I also have an unknown medical condition where I run out of energy very quickly so if I do anything, I need to take a nap. Case in point, today I went to a doctor’s appointment and required a three hour nap/recharge when I got home. I couldn’t even stop at the market beforehand.
I think because many people don’t understand anxiety, they think that being “able” to do nothing/sleep all day is a godsend, but it isn’t when it limits the experiences you want to have. I’m lucky that I have employment that doesn’t stress me out, doesn’t incite my anxiety or depression, and is office work (so I have a cubicle and can sit down) where management is not demanding. A lot of this belief comes from our culture’s belief that if you don’t work a “real” job, you’re not doing enough with your life. I have major critiques about this, but suffice it to say that at least one person understands where you’re coming from.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment! I’m sorry you struggle with anxiety and I know what you mean, sometimes we use sleep as a way to recharge, which can be a good thing as long as we don’t oversleep.