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That's exactly it. I'm in a perpetual state of being "tired", but rarely ever (outside of specific timing windows) in a state of being sleepy. This is partly be
by Puer 9y ago
That's exactly it. I'm in a perpetual state of being "tired", but rarely ever (outside of specific timing windows) in a state of being sleepy. This is partly because I also have a correlated condition called "Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder" which means my natural circadian rhythm is shifted (and unfortunately not in alignment with social norms for when I should be alert and asleep).
Sleepiness is the feeling you experience right before you actually fall asleep; the overwhelming relaxation that drags you into the unconscious. Tiredness is being too exhausted to feel or express emotion. You're awake, but mentally absent, and incapable of completing any productive task. It's one of the most frustrating feelings in the world to be unable to do something as simple as sleep. I'm extremely jealous of the people, like my roommate in college, who can seemingly will themselves into sleep within 5 minutes of laying their head down.
My insomnia was especially difficult to deal with while I was in school because it made me prone to stupid mistakes on exams. I would often misread or glaze over important details, especially on any trick or multiple choice questions, and in more than one class those little mistakes cost me grade points. It also often didn't matter how much I would study as my memory retention was horrible. Anyone who's read a book whilst tired can attest how difficult it is to not only process the words on the page, but to remember them for later.
- sametmax 9y agoI really want to experiment polyphasic sleep, but people that tried it always say the first 2 weeks are hell. Sounds like your entire life looks like those 2 weeks. What kind of task can you perform that is not immediately 10 times harder under those conditions ? P.S: I'm like your friend, I sleep like a baby. Actually less than 7 hours of sleeps makes me feel like crap.
- Puer 9y agoI don't really know if I can answer that question because I have no point of reference to what's "normal." It wasn't until high school that I found out it wasn't normal to take 3-4 hours to fall asleep every night. This is how I've been my entire life. Athletically I was able to compete with my track and soccer teammates without issue, but lifting weights is an area I lack in because sleep is so important to the development of raw strength. It isn't something I dwell on---I've lived for it so long I've gotten over it--but I do sometimes wonder in a curious way how much more I could have achieved without these sleeping issues. I used to want to be a doctor, but with this condition achieving the grades necessary to get into medical school was impossible (on a consistent basis, anyway).
- pmoriarty 9y ago"It wasn't until high school that I found out it wasn't normal to take 3-4 hours to fall asleep every night. This is how I've been my entire life." Do you drink caffeine or take any other stimulants? They could definitely have an adverse effect on your sleep.
- Puer 9y agoAbsolutely zero caffeine or stimulants. Caffeine makes me feel sick so I've never gotten into the habit of drinking it and I've found it doesn't really help my "alertness" when I'm tired anyway.
- ASalazarMX 9y agoI tried and it's not worth it. You get much more free time, but all your schedule revolves around always having a place to take a nap on time. Miss your schedule and you fall back to normal sleep pretty quick. Besides that, my impression was that injuries heal slower with polyphasic sleep.