does anyone else need this much sleep??? i think its abnormal

[emmaUK]

i need about 9-10 hours every night or i feel sooooo tired all day. i can live on 8 but dont feel like i have enough energy. god forbid less then 8 or im just useless

 

i first noticed this problem when i was 16 and started doing office work 9-5.30. i'd get go to sleep at about 11pm and then get up 6.30-7am mon-fri. after 6months of doing this 5 days a week id just be way too tired and wouldnt be able to do the job propa and be making alot of mistakes and then id have to leave the job and then i would literally sleep for about 4 days solid. i would have 2-3 week break and then start at another office job and the same thing would start all over again.

when i was 20-21 i started doing evening -night work which worked out alot better for me as it wasnt 5 days a week and i jsut seemd to handlt that alot better

 

now i have a daughter.. the problem is starting again

 

if i try to sleep any earlier then about 10.30-11pm .. i just cant sleep ... if i use sleeping tablets of any kind, they jsut make me feel liek crap the next day.

 

my daughter has been doing 3 mornings at school a week and we have to get up at 7.30... i feel like crap and sooo tired most the day getting up at this time but if i try to take a nap then i jsut cant sleep during day or any earlier at night.

luckily she only been at school mon, tues and fri. so i know i get wed, thur, sat and sunday to sleep later.

 

it seems funny coz even if i wake up naturally at 8am rather then 7.30 when the alarm goes off... i still feel alot better even though its only 30 mins difference. i find if i wake up unaturally then i just feel terrible.

 

i am totaly dreading when my daughter starts doing 5 days per week school an how im going to cope with it.

surely its not normal to need this much sleep... i feel jealous of friends who can go to sleep at midnight and get up at 7am and feel fine.

 

i exercise 5-6 days a week and eat reasonable healthy so i dont think it has anythign to do with that sort of thing... i jsut always thought that i was one of those people that need more sleep then other.... but now having a daughter its annoying that i cant be awake bright eyed and bushy tailed when i need to be. we are often running down the road to her school as i have felt so tired in the morning that its taken me ages to get us ready,

 

am i stuck with this for life????

[melodymatters]

I can't help you but I can sympathize ! Most of the guys in my life were the type that needed 4-6 hrs sleep and I am optimal at NINE ! My theory has been that I need to complete my dream/REM cycle or it's like only eating half of your meal, or stopping an orgasm half way. It's just the way were wired and we need to work around it !

[IfWishesWereHorses]

I worked night shift for years and it took me roughly 3 years to become a "night sleeper" again. I don't need more than 4 hours of sleep (got used to 3-4 seven days during college) per night and anything over 6 will mess me up for days. I was going to suggest a morning exercise routine but it seems you already do that. I used to go before school was out for the day then switched to mornings with a friend and found that that gave me a boost all day and I was able to fall asleep easier at night. I love evening walks through my neighborhood but anything more than a very slow stroll will keep me up all night.

 

I agree also with the sleep aids, I'ld rather feel tired the next day than drugged. Have you spoken to your physician, it seems you're doing all the right things otherwise. Do you know if you have any bloodsugar problems? Most people have a "sinking spell" once during the day which corresponds with their specific circadian rythm but you shouldn't be tired all day.

 

Do you have an opportunity to enjoy some sunlight each day?

[Hestia]

It's normal. Some people just need more time. I need 9 hours of sleep to feel okay which is also a little above average. And I always feel sleepy whenever i woke up with the alarm too, it takes me much more time to get energy to work when that happens.

At least you have some days of the week to recover so it's not all bad.