Excessive Sleep Affecting Responsibilities

[elizabethnueve]

I just wanted to ask who else out here sleeps so much that it interferes with regular daily activities? I just read an article which said that sleeping for those with PTSD is meant to function as a way to relieve stress. I never looked at or considered it as this. Lately, more so than before, I find myself being unable to fight from sleeping so much. At times, it is so crippling. So many things I have planned out for the day which must be done in order for me to make a living however, it is almost like an unseen force pushing me back in the bed. Anyone else?

 

[Reclusive]

Oh I am so with you. I find that it correlates directly to my stress level. Lately I've been sleeping so much it seems I'm awake just long enough to put my work hours in (and sometimes not all of them) and catch up with my fiance before he goes to bed. I feel so guilty for not doing all the things I should do but I just hit that wall where it's like I can't keep myself awake anymore... even though I've only been awake for 2 hours...

 

[elizabethnueve]

I am the same...just long enough to put in my work hours. It feels as quicksand almost, sinking and being literally pulled back into bed.

 

[KP the nut]

When I am at my worst I can sleep the day away. I look at it as being the body/minds way of trying to heal. If I am tired it is my bodies way of telling me to sleep or rest. It also makes up for the sleep lost to insommnia and nightmares.

At the moment I am managing my symptoms but I often still need an hours nap in the late afternoon. I am begining to believe what my T has been telling me which is to be kind to myself. Allowing myself time to rest is part of that.

I am a firm believer in listening to my body.

 

[Emilie]

I feel your pain, it's ruining my relationship right now. I can't surmise why I do it, I find myself composing new reasons why I might be sleeping a lot every day because my husband doesn't understand PTSD (you think he would because he's in the ARMY!). My husband gets really angry at me when I sleep in but when I am forced to wake up I am angry the entire morning, and then eventually fall asleep in the afternoon for 3-4 hours anyway when my son goes for his nap. He pretty much thinks that I'm dodging my responsibilities to be lazy, but I just honestly don't have the energy to get out of bed or to stay awake all day. I stumble around and get dizzy because I am so tired; sometimes he wakes me up when I've only had 4-5 hours of sleep to watch our son.

I feel pretty horrible that he's taking the brunt of the responsibility when it comes to caring for him in the morning but I don't think he understands that I'm trying the best. I feel like a broken record. Some people stand by "seeing is believing" and since you can't see PTSD they kind of disregard it.

 

[shell]

I really struggle with sleeping, I can't sleep when I should, but it amazing I have no problem sleeping during the day (no nightmares). I would sleep all day if I could, I recognize I use it as a way of isolating myself from my family.

When I can't cope with the stress and I'm needing to escape my husband never queries me when I say I'm tired and going for a sleep, his heard me getting up multiple times during the night because I've been having nightmares and knows I would be tired. Not a good habit to get into because then I can't sleep at night.