Is It Possible To Catch Up On Sleep?

[Jade-]

I am stuck in a bad sleep pattern.

For about 4 or 5 nights in a row, I'm not sure I'm sleeping at all, and if I do, it's not very long at all with frequent wakings. I toss and turn and think all night.

Then I crash and sleep between 10 or 12 hours one night....and then the pattern repeats itself.

I feel worse after I have crashed and feel even more tired than when I don't sleep at all or only get a couple/few hours of sleep. I slept like 10 hours last night and I feel awful right now. I feel less able to function than I did yesterday after only getting maybe 3 hours.

How does a person catch up on missed sleep? Is it even possible?

 

[MurphyJB]

Scientifically it's not possible to catch up on missed sleep.
Even when you have an opportunity to "sleep in" you should wake up later than an hour of your normal wake up time.
Your body needs consistency to be able to function propery. Too much sleep can make you feel just as bad, if not worse than getting too little sleep.

 

[MurphyJB]

I researched this and wrote a paper about it a while back....but I'm definitely not a doctor.
I could be wrong, it's been known to happen before. Lol

 

[KP the nut]

Hi Jb, no magic answer from me, however I'm in a similar pattern. I sleep 10 maybe 12 hours for a few days (usually after T), then go through a period of either not sleeping or disturbed sleep. I don't sleep during the day - I could, but avoid it.

I feel better on days when I have slept

Take care
KP

 

[Jade-]

I seem to feel better on the days that I don't sleep. It makes me feel wired and I'm able to do more.

 

[intothelight]

I noticed a pattern in myself a while back. If I get anxious, I do not sleep, and the lack of sleep leads to depression. If I continue not sleeping, the fall can be huge. I got so bad one time I had a hallucinations.

Thing is, sleep is the one thing I learned not to mess with, as the lack of it can really mess me up.

 

[Nicolette]

Scientifically it's not possible to catch up on missed sleep...............Your body needs consistency to be able to function propery. Too much sleep can make you feel just as bad, if not worse than getting too little sleep.

I agree with this as it is my understanding also.

Even when you have an opportunity to "sleep in" you should wake up later than an hour of your normal wake up time.

Did you mean "no" later an an hour after your normal wake up time MurphyJB?

 

[Grace11]

I have researched this topic and my understanding is the same as others - - no, you cannot catch up. That's why we're supposed to develop a pattern and stay with it. I haven't been able to do it myself, but I can tell a MAJOR difference in my mood when I'm well rested vs. not. I get extremely irritable when going on little sleep. I also become even more distracted and unable to focus than normal. Also, I am dealing with neck and back problems that become close to unbearable when I'm sleepless.

My sleep pattern is pretty similar to yours, Jadebear. I am truly going to force myself to work on it because I think it is by far the most unhealthy part of my life, affecting my thought processes, moods, decision making, outlook, etc., etc. I am going to start setting alarms for myself to begin preparing for bed. I need something to remind me that it's an appointment and must be tended to like a "real" appointment. Hopefully, it will help.

 

[Nicolette]

I am going to start setting alarms for myself to begin preparing for bed. I need something to remind me that it's an appointment and must be tended to like a "real" appointment. Hopefully, it will help.

Smart thinking IMHO and definitely worth a try.

 

[suzie q]

My problem with sleep is that I seem to cycle. I take prescriptions before bed time, and even then, I go through periods of not being able to sleep. I lay down and there I am, wide awake for hours. I finally get out of bed and realize that there is no way I'm gonna be able to sleep. I read, I do crafts, I watch boring TV, and eventually I come here. At least I'm doing something positive and educational. The meds I take would knock out an elephant, so I don't take more than prescribed fearing I'll end up like a zombie. I'll go 2 or 3 nights (maybe 1or2 hours of sleep) then I might be able to sleep 4-5 hours. Then it's back on the 3 night rollercoaster.

 

[Nicolette]

Suzie did you know that things like the computer and TV actually stimulate the brain and are not good if you are trying to get to sleep and having trouble?

TV:
When we watch something exciting or thrilling on television, our adrenaline gets pumped up and it becomes difficult to calm ourselves down to a point where sleep comes easy. Our minds also become engaged and trying to quiet that down can be a problem, especially if what we were watching was troubling or upsetting. If our emotions are running high and the end of the day is near, we might either lose sleep because it takes longer to fall asleep or we suffer from insomnia and wake up the next morning having had little or no sleep.

We don't always associate our insomnia with what we've done in the evening. Instead we attribute it to work problems or other worries. That is true at times but it might be that our minds wander to other things as we lay in bed unable to sleep because we've been so stimulated by our viewing choices. Television has a direct impact on a person's emotions and if you've spent the last two hours before bed watching a horror movie, your heart has raced enough that simply falling fast asleep is no longer an option. Source: articlesbase.com

Computer:
WebMD Health News
Playing a video game or finishing up some work on computer before bed may keep you awake long after you turn the computer off. A new study shows that the bright light of a computer screen may alter the body's biological clock and suppress the natural production of [DLMURL="http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-29-melatonin+oral.aspx"]melatonin[/DLMURL] that's critical to the normal sleep-wake cycle.

 

[suzie q]

When I do watch TV, I usually watch something really boring, like the History channel. When I go online, it's only after I've been awake and can't sleep. Then I come here and try to relate to those on the forum.
I don't know, I hear what you are saying. Maybe I need to keep to doing crafts. It doesn't seem to have any anxiety involved. Thanks for your input and I'll watch the melatonin levels!

Hope I didn't sound to defensive. I need all the help I can get