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Depressed for about 2 years now, falling asleep in daytime

Posted , 5 users are following.

titabeth
titabeth

I'm 57 years old and I've had depression and anxiety on and off for most of my adult life.  I am much better at recognising it and coping nowadays, but I get tired very easily.  Some days I sleep for 12 to 14 hours,  but other days I only sleep for between 4 and 6 hours.  Does anyone have any  advice they can offer how I could get 8 - 9 hours, unbroken sleep each day.  I think it averages out at about 8-9 hours over a week, but  it plays havoc with trying to find a job.  Any help would be appreciated.

0 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • michael_37726
    michael_37726 titabeth

    Posted

    I was exactly the same but started work again 2 weeks ago after nearly a year off. When I wasn't working I would sleep most of the day and could never imagine being able to work with being so tired all the time but the thing is I'm coping ok I'm working 9 hrs per day 5 days a week. I do get tired but its just seems to pass if I just try and carry on with my work. Also I was on antidepressants for 32 years and came off them about 2 months ago because they ended up making me into a hopeless zombie. So I thing coming off the meds and getting back into work has helped a great deal. The depression and anxiety is still there but I find I'm managing with it a lot better now
    • titabeth
      titabeth michael_37726

      Posted

      Oh thank your Michael for your reply.  I recently came off my sertraline, I've never found medication the whole solution.  One time my sleep was so bad I couldn't get more that a couple of hours.  My doctor gave me some information and that time I tried staying awake for 24 hours, and after that I could sleep for 6 hours unbroken, but it's never got any better than that.  It just seems weird that it averages out at 8-9 hours.  I guess I just have to hang in there. I've been trying not to sleep during the day.  Actually I'm off to bed now, too much internet after 10 pm doesn't really help. I can be my own worst enemy.  Take care and good on you for getting back to work, hope it keeps getting better for you.
    • anne240
      anne240 titabeth

      Posted

      I stopped anti depressants 17 months ago after having been on them for nearly 30 years.  I have never slept well on or off medication.  Luckily I don't have to work now.  Lack of sleep was the first thing that took me to my doctor, and he diagnosed depression.  I won't take sleeping pills, and have tried herbal sleep aids, but they don't help me sleep, just make me feel "hung over."  Have you tried herbal sleep aids? 

      I wish I knew what it was like to sleep through the night.  I never nap during the day because that would affect what sleep I do get in the night.  I am in my 70s but it has always been like this. 

      Some people say their anti depressant helps with sleep, but I have been on many different ones, and they made no difference.  I have got a tape I listen to sometimes by Paul McKenna which is supposed to help you get a good nights refreshing sleep.  There are lots of relaxtion CDs on the market, how about trying one of those?  I think anything worth trying.  It is so much more difficult when we have to go to work the next day.

      I've tried Lavendar oil on pillow, and that does make me drowsy.  There is also breathing exercises you can do to induce a drowsy feeling.  Has your doctor suggested anything to you that can help?

  • julie74890
    julie74890 titabeth

    Posted

    Hello titabeth I am 41 and I no how you are feeling as I suffer from depression and anxity as well I used to sleep all day and at night but now I have a part time job and I go for a bike ride everyday as well I still have panck attacks if you can find something to occupy your mind it may help I am on citlopram hope this has helped x
    • titabeth
      titabeth julie74890

      Posted

      Hi Julie, I was on here earlier today and I did reply to you, but for some reason the site would not up load my reply, it kept flashing a red sign saying 500 which I didn't understand.  

      Anyway thanks for your reply, ironically I did actually get 8 hours unbroken sleep last night!  Maybe it was just getting it off my chest, and today I have had a lot more energy.  I do relaxation exercises but I find I can not longer do as strenuous exercise as I could when I was younger, but I have been thinking about getting a bike.  Getting these replies has been really useful.  It has made me think a  lot more about it.  I was working in a care home for adults with learning disabilities.  I had to shift work and sleep in duties.  Once a week, and I never knew more than a few days in advance, I would start work at 2pm, finish about 10pm, sometimes be up in the night to see to the guys, then do another shift from 7am until 2.30pm.  Try as I might I could not get my 26 year old manager to understand the impact that this was having on my (declared to my employers) depression.  Not to mention the havoc it caused with my mealtimes.  Anyway eventually I became too poorly to continue in that job.  It's probably taken me the year I've been off work to begin to feel even slightly normal.  I'm sure I will get another job soon a more 9 - 5 one that doesn't involve sleeping ( or rather not sleeping) the night.  Take care of yourself, have you tried CBT for your anxiety?

  • hypercat
    hypercat titabeth

    Posted

    Hi you have my sympathy as I have been through this as well.   I find the older I get the more tired I am (I am 61) and when I was working 30 hours a week the strain was so enormous I used to sleep sometimes for 12 hours at a time.   Depression makes it a lot worse.

    Now I am not working but still get very tired.  Can you afford to work part time?   Having to get up and go to work is beneficial because you have to force yourself to get moving but once you start you feel better as don't forget energy creates energy. Whilst you are not working your need to have more structure in your life and things to get up for.   I walk my sisters dog everyday and have set activities every day  that I have to do otherwise I am letting others down.   

    When you are working again you will get into a pattern of getting up at the same time and going to bed at a certain time.  Don't forget the average 8 hours sleep is just that - an average.   Some people need less than that and others need more.  I would say 6-10 hours is more 'normal'.  

    Bev x

    • titabeth
      titabeth hypercat

      Posted

      Hi hypercat, thanks for your reply.  I don't have any trouble waking up or getting up, I usually get up around 7.30.

      The amazing thing is after posting this discussio last night I ACTUALLY HAD 8 HOURS UNBROKEN SLEEP LAST NIGHT!  HURRAY!  By 10 am I was back from shopping and bill paying.  I think  this site is making me better!

  • titabeth
    titabeth

    Posted

    Hi Anne, thanks for your  reply.  Ironically, and happily I did actually sleep for 8 hours unbroken last night, today I feel normal and had done my shopping and was into the washing and  ironing by 10 am.  I have used   kalms, not the night time ones, the day ones, but I am not using them at the moment.  I try not to nap during the day, although I think I will once I'm retired.  I generally wake up early 7.30.  At least I am not waking regularly at 4 am any more.  I recently started taking vitamins, E B complex, Vitamin D (i was diagnosed as having low levels) and co oenzyme Q10.  Hopefully these supplements are responsible for my good night last night.  When I got really severely depressed a few years back and couldn't get off to sleep or stay asleep for longer than a couple of hours, it was the start of the menopause for me.  I still get terrible hot f lushes and then cold sweats, but these have improved since taking the supplements, maybe it was those sweats that have played havoc with my sleep for the last 13 years. 
    • anne240
      anne240 titabeth

      Posted

      Yes I take Kalms.  Lucky you sleeping well last night.  Wish I could do the same.  Glad you are feeling better.  I go to bed at 10pm and wake at about 3am and cannot get back to sleep.  But I lay there because at least my body is resting.  I take lots of supplements too.  Vitamin D, Multi Vitamin and Minerals, Omega 3, Vitamin B complex, Cod Liver Oil (also for my arthritis) and Magnesium.  But I have been tsking supplements for many years.  I still think they help with my depression, but not with sleep. 

      I started my menopause when I was 42 and finished by 44.  I still get flushes even though I am in my 70s.  I was on HRT for 13 years. 

    • titabeth
      titabeth anne240

      Posted

      Hi Anne, thanks for replying.  I saw a post on here a couple of days ago where someone was talking about a device called Cranial Electrography Stimulation.  I researched it and it is supposed to help with depression, anxiety, mood and SLEEP problems.  It's a small device which you attach to your ear lobes whilst relaxing (ie not driving or doing anything else).  Electrical impulses go into your ear lobes.  You do this for 25 minutes twice a day.  The lady that reported it on here said she found out about it and took part in a 5 trial.  It costs about £250 or you can hire one for about £94.  There is an English manufacturer and he lists a lot of academic research on his website.  I read some of the papers on it and I am seriously thinking about trying it.  It's something that may help, but seriously check it out first.  I looked it up in a few other academically respected places on the internet and it seems as though there is good evidence in support of its efficacy.  However at the moment it is not licensed as a  medical device in the UK, although the manufactuere is in the process of applying for it.  It is sold here as an entertainment device.

      I think it might help my mum as well.  She is about to be 81 and she regularly wakes at 3 or 4 am and can't fall back to sleep.  I really feel for you.  I never went on HRT because cancer runs in my family and my doctor didn't think it was appropriate.  The other thing I have found helpful is buddhist meditation, the kind of meditation that you do by deep breathing and just focusing on your breath and letting thoughts go.  But I'm not having much luck with that at the moment!  I guess life continues to throw difficulties in all our paths.  Hope you get some relief, could you get a referral to a sleep clinic from your GP?

    • anne240
      anne240 titabeth

      Posted

      I went to bed at ten but could not sleep so here I am playing on the computer at midnight.

      Thank you for the information. 

      I got a book out of library about Buddist meditation recently, funnily enough.  Trouble is I cannot switch off my mind at all. 

      As for the machine, no I don't fancy that.

      I have always had sleep problems, and as I don't work any more I can cope with it. 

      I am on pension credit benefit and money is a struggle, so have to watch every penny.  I will carry on as I am, as always been this way.

      Thanks for your help.  Really appreciated.  Hope you continue to sleep like last night.

      Take care,

      Regards Anne x

    • titabeth
      titabeth anne240

      Posted

      Anne, you tinker! just like me! we should both be in bed! lol!!!wink

      My daughter's getting married in June, can't wait to retire! got to wait till I'm 66, only another 8 and bit years.!  Money's a struggle here too, but funnily enough I haven't worried about it this time!

    • anne240
      anne240 titabeth

      Posted

      Hope your daughter has a beautiful wedding.  I had to retire early and go onto Invalidity Benefit because my depression was so bad I could not work.  I get lonely a lot of the time but get out as much as I can.

      i feel so weary today because did not sleep last night. 

  • titabeth
    titabeth

    Posted

    Hi Anne, yes I'm looking forward to the wedding.  She sure is beautiful anyway and obviously I love her to bits.  I was on incapacity benefit for about 7 years the last I got badly depressed,  I was amazed that I did eventually get well enough to find a job, and gobsmacked to find myself almost back to square one 3 years later. But I have to live in hope!rolleyes I hope I will get another job and work at it until I can get my pension.  
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