Why do I sleep all the time?

You could be broken. Clinical depression can keep me in bed for 20 hours a day.

Go to your doctor. Don’t be like the rest of these fools who consult Fluther for medical and car repair advice.

I sleep 14 hours on average a night. And take naps. Whatever’s wrong with you is wrong with me.

@frdelrosario good job calling them fools, my thoughts exactly!

Without work you’re probably inactive which would make any sane person go slightly insane! Depression might be causing your sleepiness, as it does mine. Find responsibilities, things that will fulfill your intellectual, emotional, and physical needs.

Too much sleep, like too little sleep, is harmful.

You might be broken. When I was in my late teens, my thyroid quit and I started sleeping constantly and being constantly tired. Go to your doctor, tell him your symptoms and talk about getting blood work done to determine whether your thyroid is producing enough thyroid hormone.

Alternatively, it could be sleep apnea, which is when you choke in your sleep. Basically, your airway collapses while you are asleep, you start to choke and your body wakes you up so that you can regain conscious control of your airway to start breathing again. Sleep apnea prevents you from getting any degree of meaningful sleep and is a slow road to a heart attack.

Other than those two possibilities, I’m not sure what else to suggest.

Along with the other suggestions already mentioned, your body could be lacking some serious nutrients it needs which is the reason for your tiredness and low energy. Make sure you’re getting enough to eat and try not to skip any meals. If you already think you eat enough, then keep track of exactly what you’re consuming because you might not be eating healthy enough. Every once in a while, I fall back into the habit of only eating one meal a day and when I do this, I feel tired all the time. After all, you need food and water to survive and eating very little compared to eating how much is considered normal/healthy makes a big difference in how you feel. If you don’t take any vitamins, maybe you should start.
Definitely get some blood work done.

Because you are depressed?

You’re probably over sleeping. It seems illogical, but sleeping past what your body really needs can make you feel groggy too! Try starting an exercise regime (and nourish yourself properly, of course!) I find that when I’m feeling sluggish, exercise picks me up!

Also, since you seem to be awake primarily at night, you might be suffering from a vitamin D deficiency. Try spending some more time in the sun, or if you don’t want to do that, taking a supplement.

Maybe too much computer time at night? I’ve heard that staring at a bright screen, such as a computer monitor or TV can mess with your internal clock. Once your sleep schedule is out of whack, it can really take you for a ride.

This happened to me when I was 19. I was sleeping at least 17 hours a day. I would wake up, eat a little, usually just some Saltines and a coke, and go back to sleep. I dropped out of school. I was depressed, but that was not a popular diagnosis at the time, so it took a while before anybody figured out what was wrong. With hindsight it should have been obvious even then.

One thing I have noticed plenty of times over the years is that doing nothing makes me want to do nothing, and doing something makes me want to do something. If I get to feeling too dull, I have to jump-start myself and get involved in things, and then I come back to life.

If you’re really depressed, it takes more than that. What does your instinct tell you?

This requires a visit to your physician. There are many potential causes for hypersomnia (excessive sleeping) in addition to depression including anaemia, thyroid problems, sleep apnea, serious infections and many more.

Use energetic foods and try to busy yourself in any kind of activity.

Join the sleepers club! Make sure you try to get more energetic by walking or doing light exercise no matter how hard it is. Lay off the carbohydrates which may also be a cause. Stick to the same sleeping and waking up hours. I know how you feel, it makes me feel guilty and inadequate, but seriously, I don’t want to be like that. I always feel that I can fall asleep right there and then even if a gun were being held to my head to keep me awake!

Excessive sleeping (hypersomnia) can be a symptom of a number of different disorders or problems, including the following:

* Sleep deprivation
* Clinical depression
* Schizophrenia
* Narcolepsy
* Substance-induced sleep disorder
* Sleep apnea syndrome
* Proximal myotonic dystrophy – hypersomnia
* Stress/Emotional event/Psychologic
* Endogenous
* CFS/Fibromyalgia/Chronic fatigue syndrome
* Fibromyositis/Fibromyalgia syndrome
* Seasonal affective disorder
* Reactive
* Depression/secondary to illness
* Bipolar affective disorder
* Glioblastoma multiforme
* Atypical
* Adjustment disorder/reaction/adolescent
* Malnutrition/Starvation
* Kleine-Levin syndrome
* Sleeping sickness/trypanosomiasis
* Major depressive episode
* Genetics
* Brain damage
* Uremia
* Fibromyalgia

If it’s bothering you see your doctor and ask for a referral to a sleep disorders clinic. There are treatments for many of these, and you might learn about a previously undiagnosed problem. One friend had this problem and it turned out to be sleep apnea, which in turn was caused by his cigarette smoking. It gave him the incentive to quit and since he did, he’s no longer tired all the time.
source: http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/h/hypersomnia/causes.htm

@rangerr Further to what everyone else has said: You may also have diabetes. Before I was diagnosed I was constantly exhausted (beyond tired) and sleep was of little benefit. I would be up at 7:00 AM to go to work by 7:30, but at 7:25 while putting my boots on I felt as though I’d done a days hard labour. I literally had to force myself to do anything. Eventually my body collapsed into a great heap and I could do nothing. You do not want that!

See your doctor and get checked out.

@GeorgeGee Your comment reads like a TV add for some obscure medication. Taking x for depression may cause depression. :)

@rangerr Try eating healthy and exercise. Eating nutritious carbs and protein will give you long lasting energy without the highs and the lows.

And on the other hand, your body is great at telling you what it needs. Maybe you need the sleep? Just a thought. Take care and be good to yourself.