I'm soo sleepy everyday, HELP!
 

I'm assuming this is the right section because it said Off-topic. Sorry if it isn't.

Hey, so how much sleep do you guys get?

I get about 7.5-8 hours of sleep at night and am super tired during the day. It's so wierd because I know some of my friends stay up later than I do and don't have problems staying up during class. For the last 3 years I've had a class during the middle of the day that I could just sleep in without the teacher caring, but I don't have one of these classes this year and it gets really hard to stay up.

I don't know what to do. Should I change something in my diet? Does coffee really help? I need some help staying up, what do you guys do?

For the last 5 years, I've yawned constantly during classes and some teachers take it as an insult. But my sleepiness is just way out of hand now.

I started taking a nap last year after school for 15 minutes. Back then 15 minutes were enough, but now I usually nap for 30 minutes and it isn't really enough, I'm still sleepy when I wake up.

If you guys need some more info to answer my questions then just ask.

Thanks for your help!

I would check with your doctor, could be underlying issues. It could be any number of things that a doctor would be best to answer/diagnose.

I was hoping it I didn't have to go that far. I keep forgetting to bring it up when I go to the doctor.

Some people require more than 8 hours. If your body says sleep, then sleep.

So how much sleep do you guys get?

I get more than 8. Sometimes lots more.

Maybe your classes are boring you and you haven't admitted it?

There could be a problem though. Sleep apnea will ruin the quality of whatever sleep you do get, making it seem like you didn't get enough.

I felt the same way for a bit last year when I was on a 1000 calorie diet...it might be a diet thing, best to check talk to a doctor.

Best of luck!

I usually sleep for 7-8 hours depending on my schedule. Sometimes I get really sleepy in class if I'm bored.

Some things that I think help me through class:
Good breakfast and lunch
Excitement (In or outside of class)
Sleeping more
motivation (Wanting to go to class, vs going because I have to)

I don't drink coffee regularly because I don't want to be dependent on it. (Same for sodas and other caffeine )

K thanks guys I will consider all you have to say. On another forum that I posted this up on I got answers like "I get 5-6 hours of sleep and am well rested."


I stopped having pop tarts and eat a banana for breakfast. I drink coffee everynow and again. I guess I will think about hypermiling during class to stay awake. :D Just kidding, amazingly I kept up with Physics even though I was dozing in and out of sleep all class long. Teacher was nice enough to pretend to not see me sleeping.

I get anywhere from 7-9 hours of sleep. The key to a good day is some food in the morning, not just a token piece to eat but a semi meal. I've found that the 350cal nutritional drinks you can get from wally world make a good start in the morning plus a little something else. You might also want to check to see if you have any kind of low level allergies which could be sapping your energy. I've got a mild allergy to grasses and dust which is enough to keep my immune system up 24/7 and it can be pretty draining on a bad day. Doc gave me some meds, I feel way better.

I know how you feel seasonal allergies, every season. Never used to be like this, I think it is from spraying Rhino Linings (isocyanates)

Ankit, I dont know much about ecomodding, but I do have some good experience with issues of health. I am 36 and after 20 years of being a typical sedentary american who eats only lunch and dinner, I decided to get back in shape this year, and I found the secret to completely fixing your metabolism by making it normal. I wont bore you with the details, but this is how I turned my health around in a nutshell:

1.) no matter what, eat a breakfast of some kind that makes you FULL, I mean so full you dont want to finish. Oatmeal is good for this, and an egg, and peanut butter on bread... note that I sad AND not OR. Make breakfast the biggest meal of the day, NOT dinner.

2.) In addition to breakfast, eat 5 more half meals instead of 2 more big meals. This keeps your metabolism 'stoked' like a fire, and essentially you are eating the way babies eat... you know, those healthy, happy little people?

3.) UP the protien intake... this means more chicken and more lean beef and more fish and more cottage cheeese and more milk... boo-hoo all those things are so hard to enjoy right? LOL wait, did I just say to eat MORE and not eat LESS? Yes, yes I did. We dont eat enough protien in our diets, we instead eat tons and tons of starchy filler. Up the protein, and you wont want the bread and crackers any more. Also with lean meats you will get a satisfying amount of fat in your diet, eliminating the need for starchy fries and cookies and chips to fill that void... yes we do need fat and even cholesterol in our bodies to transfer blood sugars and protiens. Dont starve yourself to lose weight... it WONT work!

4.) COMPLETELY eliminate all sweetened drinks... PERIOD. HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup) is the number one reason we all suck. Dont be a slave to it any more... Find an unsweetened tea you like, and make it the only drink you drink other than milk, black coffee, occasional red wine, or water. Dont be fooled by a jug of corn syrup that says its healty fruit juice either!

So there it is, go one week at a time, adding one of the above to your routine... I PROMISE you will feel like a million bucks during the second month, and you will never miss the old stuff.

Good luck and get some exercise too! Cheers!

ankit -

When I was a young whippersnapper I had the stamina to function on 4-6 hours of sleep for extended periods. The caveat was that I could make up for the lack of sleep on the weekend. Now those days are long gone.

Today at age 42 I need 8 hours to stay healthy, but I rarely get that much, :( . Too many sub-8-hour days just wears me into the ground. I think my wife needs closer to 9+ hours to have a good day. Every metabolism is different.

I don't want to know any details, but are there other stress factors going on in your life? When I had tough times, I learned to deliberately use lots of sleep to get through them. Maybe your body is just trying to deal with the stress by saying "I'm tired and I want to sleep on it".

Healthy food (especially breakfast) will definitely make a difference. I usually go on Robek's/Jamba Juice binges to try to get through the day when I am getting worn out.

IMO hondaworkshop just said some good stuff.

Hmmmm, I never had allergies in the past, but maybe I have some today. This thread may have helped me more than you, or just fed into my hypochondria, :p .

CarloSW2

I'll start with a good breakfast tomorrow morning (as opposed to cereal and milk OR maybe a banana). I'll see where I go from there and research metabolisms on the internet or whatever. Thanks guys.

I definitely can't really make up for sleep on the weekends ;) but I'll try to get that schedule down pat so that my weekend sleeping schedule doesn't mess it up for the week. I still get 7.5-8 hours of sleep on the weekends but not enough to make up for the draining week. :)

No extra stress that I really know of, I guess the college application process is in the back of my mind. But that is probably about it. :thumbup:

I guess I'll keep you posted.

im 17 and i sleep like 9-9:30 hours a nite when it is good, everyday. :D
it may be getting up early, when i have to get up early i am tired, no matter how much sleep.

I second the thing about the protein. Sugar (like a poptart) gives you a quick high then you crash. Protein is a more balanced energy.

Im one who functions better at night too. Doesnt matter how early I may go to bed, when the sun comes up is when I get tired.

Well somewhat amusing thing happened. I told my mom about this and she said she used to have the same problem when she was young. Maybe it is something that only drugs can cure since it might be genetic. But I'm going for protein and breakfast for a couple of weeks and then see where I am.

well from my own experience, and 2 cents.
Depression [not saying you have it] affects your sleeping patterns and how well you sleep at night. Allergies, as mentioned, does drain your body from energy.
Do you do anything fun,or are you a work/school all day everyday type ? I noticed with myself that i don't feel nearly as tired for a few days after going out and having some fun. Doesn't matter if it's partying, just hanging out with friends, or going somewhere, anything out the ordinary effects how i feel for a few days. I guess it's just the way my mind and body work.
Just thought i'd throw that out there

I'll disagree -- I could sleep for 12 hours a night, but I feel better and I'm more productive on 6.5. Everyone is different, though -- so...

Have your doctor draw some blood and (if they're good) run a panel on Thyroid, Monospot, Blood Count, Chemistries, etc. Otherwise, patterns may indicate Depression/Anxiety.

Do you take a multivitamin? Sometimes miscellaneous vitamins or minerals are a missing link in this situation.

RH77

21, i sleep about 5-6 hours a day... i feel just fine

are you dehydrated?

I am 37 years old and sleep 5 hours per day. I cannot really sleep any longer than that for some reason. I also am too darn busy at work to even think about sleeping or being tired.

Quality of sleep is as important as quantity. Physical activity during the day can yeild a better quality of sleep. As young as you are, you should be getting lots of activity (or workouts) in during the course a day. I know you're busy--we all are--but you only have one chance at life. Keep healthy from the start. Lack of sleep can cause a number of maladies later.

Next time you see a doctor talk about that to him. It may be your body fighting a small virus. Some virus are present in 50% of people but only a very small percentage will have to fight against them, often right after another virus fighting. It may also be not enough sun : stay outside half an hour per day before 10am or after 6pm; may be can you get your breakfast outside ?

A few years ago I was feeling tired but it was only cafeine and sugar "excess". In fact I didn't changed my habit, but my body couldn't manage so much anymore. Now I avoid cafeine after noon and lower my sugar consumption. Read drinks' etiquettes and calculate how many liters correspond to 1 pound of sugar; hint : not so many...

Denis.

...
Ed has a very good point -- quality is important. I know caffeine may be a good afternoon boost, but experiment with limiting its quantity after a target hour.

Alcohol can be quite bad on the sleep pattern. It's common for folks to have a drink in the evening, but brain waves during critical sleep stages are much different. You'll get the REM sleep, but not the bridge waves immediately after. In these cases people wake up right after dreaming. This can leave you foggy and tired the next day.

Exercise is good, but tough to do if you're depressed.

Do you have trouble getting to sleep or nap in the afternoon?

RH77

I used to be fine with 5-6 hours. Since I got my son I need more like 7-8.

I would suggest taking a 15 minutes nap right after lunch, that might help you make it through the afternoon. No need to lay down. Just find a quite place where you can comfortably rest your head and close you eyes. I had a desk with my name on it in a corner of the library when I was in college.

Check your fav Dr. - and get a 2nd opinion!!
 

The above is good advice ( multi-vitamins are cheap-and good Rx). A medical opinion is excellent, as is a 2nd opinion to verify.

Every one IS different, especially their metabolisms. See a Dr., see a 2nd Dr. to catch what might have been missed! Sleep well! :thumbup:

Lots of good advice given..

For your internal clock and melatonin production, try going outside (get some sun) for 10 or 15 minutes first thing in the morning. - Within the first 10 or 15 minutes upon waking.

At night when you're going to sleep, make sure that it is completely dark... No lights on, and no TV left on.

Follow the same pattern every day - get up at the same time and go to bed at the same time.

Have you ever been bitten by a tick? I know that Lyme disease can really wipe you out.

When I took Alpha blockers they really wiped me out.

I have trouble trying to stay awake. I have tried to break the habit of napping in the afternoon but it didn't work out. Just ended up napping later on in the day (6-7 o clock nap instead of 3 o clock nap). That's really not a help because then I would have trouble getting to sleep at night so I just cede to the 3 o clock nap now.

My new year's resolution lasted longer than normal. I got exercise everyday until about one month ago. Now physical exercise doesn't even cross my mind. Not to say that I am out of shape or anything. But I just don't exercise as much as I should. I guess I'll get back on to that a couple of times a week.

Mom was talking to her sister today and apparently my cousin has the same issue. He takes vitamins and has a better day. But he said that he works better and more refreshed when he only gets 5-6 hours of sleep.

Not that I know of. Not much of an camping kind outdoors man.

I can't find the post but someone here suggested that I try breathing deeply when I start to get groggy in class. WOW! It actually worked. By the 3rd semi-deep breath I was awake for a couple of minute. I cut my groggy time in school from 30 minutes in physics to less than 15. Thanks.

Breakfast seemed to help, but I just wasn't hungry enough to eat more than a bagel.

ankit -

Oh yeah, deep breathing is a general health practice. When babies are born they naturally breath into their belly. By the time we are teenagers we are breathing very shallow and therefore using less of our lung capacity. We basically "unlearn" how to breath.

Whenever I have been in a class that teaches meditation, they emphasize breathing "into your belly". That gets the oxygen into the lower part of your lungs where it can be absorbed.

It's hard for me to eat a big breakfast too.

CarloSW2

Well I had a nasty cup of black coffee (no sugar crash) and another bagel for breakfast today. Same amount of sleep at night. Other than that and deep breathing when I get kind of sleepy, I didn't fall asleep today in school. I can't remember the last time that happened.

Thanks again guys.

Hrm...

I *think* you're getting too much sleep!

I sleep 4-5 hours. I can get by on 2 hours, but I'm here to tell you that there's a world of difference between 2 hours sleep and 4! So, 4-5 hours is perfect for me. If I sleep for 7.5-8 hours, I feel like Death is knocking on the door!

I start my day with mega doses of vitamins & minerals, taken with a large glass of Concord grape juice, and finish off with a large cup of coffee with a scoop of Knox NutraJoint. That's it - that's breakfast and lunch! When I get hungry, several hours later, I usually eat onion sandwiches drenched in Tabasco pepper sauce, popcorn, or Mexican Food covered with table salsa. I NEVER eat meat - fish, chicken, pork, beef - NOTHING! And, NO soy or soy-based products either...

I'll stop there. I got a stomach like barbed wire! I'm a vegetarian and the stuff I eat can strip the paint off cars. I don't recommend my diet, unless you wanna be 'wired' 24/7 - you just don't wanna be sleepy, right?

Another thing - I've noticed that there are two kinds of ppl - robins and owls. I'm an owl - can't stand mornings!!! When I have to do something during morning hours, I feel exactly like you described. Afternoons/nights are perfect for me. So, maybe you're an owl, stuck on a robin's schedule, or vise-verse.

Anyway, knock off all the snoozing and I think you'll feel better in the long run! ;)

Good point!

Um...

My home is like Grand Central Station!

I don't know when I started this, but it was years ago...

I sleep with earplugs in - no kidding - those foam plugs made for shooting guns and so forth.

Basically, when I go to sleep, I'm out of pocket - dead to the world!

If you wake up by a clock, just make sure you can HEAR IT with the plugs in!!!

What I do is use a clock radio, and turn it up as loud as it'll go... :thumbup:

I sleep around 7 hours. Eithier I will sleep a straight 7 or take a 2hour nap and sleep 5hours.

BlackDeuceCoupe -

Me too. Not all the time, but when I know I am going to sleep in and I know it will be noisy, I pop-'em in.

I'm definitely an owl. Always have been, always will be.

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CarloSW2

When I first started traveling for work and staying in loud hotels (like next to a runway, highway, fire station, etc.) I developed a strange habit of putting a pillow over my ear. I never had luck with earplugs -- a bit painful and irritating, IMO

I once stayed at a hotel that was between runways (Columbus, Ohio).

I'm a side- or stomach-sleeper, so back-sleepers might not get much out of it. It blocks light too, if you get it positioned right.

At home, I have a HEPA filtration fan that's produces enough "white noise" to block out the random nightly noises (and it cleans the air) :thumbup: My 10-year old one just bit the dust :p so I picked up a new one that isn't as noisy, but does the job.

RH77

You should go to a doctor and talk to him about the problem. For years I had the same problem no matter how much I slept I was still tired. It finally got to a point where I couldn't go to sleep at all and ended up that I was suffering from severe depression. Depression can have either effect, sleeping too much or not being able to sleep at all. Since I am on anti depressants I sleep better than I use to, but still can't go to sleep without the use of prescription medications at bedtime and then it still takes several hours to get to sleep sometimes. If I don't take my medication I will lie awake all night and will continue to stay awake night after night until I start taking my medication on a regular basis. Don't do like I did and keep putting off a visit to the doctor, I think it would be money and time well spent.

Hrm...

Dare I say it?!?!?

If you look at my last 'fuel log' entry, you'll see that I spent 4 hours, and a half tank of gas, talking a friend out of their 'depression'. I finally convinced him to figure out the source of his anger and go attack it/them, rather than himself.

Turned out, after hours of talking - his family is driving him crazy - sucking him dry financially, emotionally, and physically. "Great", I said, "Go home and kick their blood-sucking parasite arses out! Or, at least be a man and yell at 'em!"

He's doing MUCH better now - took the noose down in his garage and everything...

Depression, so called, is simply anger directed toward yourself. That is, a depressed person is an angry person with no outlet for their anger, so they turn the anger on themselves. If they don't release this anger, sometimes they kill themselves or someone else.

Putting a 'depressed' person on meds usually just makes the situation worse - sometimes they kill LOTS of people!

Evaluate, medicate, evacuate - that's the mantra of the mental health system - and I think the OP is V smart to stay away from the pill pushers. You're better taking up amateur boxing, or something, and getting it out of your system, than trying to suppress inner anger, e.g. depression with meds...

Heh!

I've used every foam plug known to man, for the reason[s] you mentioned...

My current favorite is: Comfort Plus™ Earplugs

An airplane could crash into my bed and I wouldn't hear it - plus they have a SUPER comfortable, LOW pressure design, e.g. no pain and not irritating. Matter of fact, they take a little getting used to.

They're so soft, it's kinda hard to stick them in, kinda like... um... well...

I'll spare you the sex act analogy! :D