TOO MUCH SLEEP!!!

Sallie,

I don't know how to explain the reasons, but I too have the smae problem...so much sleep and yet still so tired.

I sleep about 10-11 hrs a night, and still find I am tired during the day and also getting very moody with it.

I too am on prozac and nothing else... if there is anyone who can help us, please let us know.

Take care,

Becci

You sleep for ten hours but could happily sleep for more...

I think you've basically identified the problem. You need to reset your body clock. It's bloody hard work but you need to set a time that you are always awake by e.g. never sleep beyond 8.30 and have a regular(ish) bedtime. Slot in some regular exercise (motivation is very hard if you have SAD but stay focussed) to get yourself used to being awake. Sounds sad (no pun intended) but get yourself out of bed and go for a walk.

All the above is incredibly hard if you have SAD and the tiredness doesn't disappear entirely (I have incredibly slothful days- not good in the middle of a meeting or in lectures if I think back to uni) but you can programme your body out of the pattern to a degree.

When I was in my first year of uni (and living on campus) I would get up at 10.30 for a lecture at 11 have lunch 12.30 on my return. Sit on my bed 'to read' and fall asleep, wake up, eat, watch neighbours, sleep and then get up at 1 the following day to go to a lecture at 2. Slept loads, felt tired most of the time BUT with a lot of hard work you can ease the tiredness by setting yourself strict sleep and wake patterns.

Might work- might not, as i said bloody hard work but worth it.

Hi Sallie ~ well, you have certainly tried! Remain persistent, you will get there in the end you know!

First of all, you might like to visit : http://www.outsidein.co.uk/sadrange.htm
~ this will show you the entire range of lightboxes stocked by OutsideIn. This is a really extensive range, a better selection would be very hard to find. I have a Satellite, it's like an angle poise lamp therefore possible to put it on a coffee table, by the bed, on the desk, mine is actually on top of my monitor where I have a computer flat top and the Satellite is in its collapsed-mode. I have done a cut and paste of the guarantee which appears on their order form:

Satisfaction Guaranteed We have a Home Trial system for our SAD / Therapy products so you can be sure that what you order actually helps.
The Small Print! UK only. If at any time up to 21 days from the date of delivery you decide that you wish to return the unit phone Outside In during office hours and tell us. We will arrange to have a lightbox or Visor collected from your home (mainland only), it is your responsibility and cost to return a clock. As soon as we receive it back we will refund all your money including standard delivery charge. The exceptions are we will make a £15 refurbishment charge for a Visor and a £10 restocking charge for a clock. If the unit is scratched or damaged we will tell you what the problem is and we may have to charge for any repair at a cost of £20.00per hour plus materials. We will not charge for minor problems. The unit must be returned in its original packing. This does not affect your statutory rights under UK law.

You can order with a card from the order forms, or by phone, or you can print an order form and fax your order to us or by post with a cheque. We do NOT charge your card until your goods are ready for dispatch (usually on the same or following day). You can spread the cost over 3months without interest charges (phone for details).

It might also be a good idea to phone them and see if they have any seconds for sale, you know, ones with the odd irrelevant scratch which could therefore be cheaper. It is a struggle, but when a light box turns ones life around it is impossible to imagine living without it. I have between 20-25 wasted winters under my belt, so to guide just one person towards a SAD-free life and have success would be a huge thrill, it could be you!

All the very best if you choose that route, whatever hang on in there and keep posting notes! Julie

Hello again everyone! ThanQ once again for your advice & support. Will definitely take Julie's advice and ring up 4 seconds, and Melissa's advice was really quite scary! Yes, i take the contraceptive pill, have been doing for the past 5 - 6 years, around the time i first started to notice symptoms. Could this be the little devil that's been causing me hell for the past 5 winters? Worth finding out i think. Never really occurred to me that a tiny little thing like that might be the cause (or contributor) to this godforsaken illness!

Must admit though, once I'd been diagnosed by the psychiatrist i did play on it - late homework, missin lessons etc. Well who wouldn't?! I was only 16! How good is it at that age to be able to turn round to a teacher you really hate and tell them, quite legitimately, that you couldn't do your homework/come to the last lesson because you were asleep?!!!! Not that many of them actually beleived there was anything wrong with me (apart from idle-itis), but what could they say? No we don't believe you despite numerous letters from various health professionals?

Don't play on it any more though, trying to get my head down and get myself a degree. Had to do an extra year at college coz i'd missed so much work. Am really trying now, but still can't help falling asleep. Fightin a losing battle in lectures.

Going to storm round to the doctor's tomorrow & tell him that my silly sleeping habits are ENTIRELY A SYMPTOM OF SAD and the current facilities in this area are JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH! Then I'm going to ask him politely if i can please try another brand of contraceptive pill.

Speak to you all again soon, bye 4 now xx

Sallie, have U had tests for narcolepsy?

http://www-med.stanford.edu/school/Psychiatry/narcolepsy/index.html