In feeling sleepy/exhausted whenever I'm upset or stressed?

[catofdoom]

Whenever I have a big row with someone (not that it happens often, but once with my Mother and a few times with DH or an ex) or am feeling sad about something I lose all energy and start nodding off!

It's always happened but seems to be getting worse.

A good friend is currently in a life threatening condition and I just couldn't get out of bed this morning because I kept falling back asleep.

I have to go a pick ds up from camp soon and I've drunk two strong coffees because I'm a bit nervous I'll drop off when I'm driving!

Is this some kind of normal response to stress. It's actually more when I'm upset than angry, when I'm angry I seem to have boundless energy!

Anybody else get this weird and fucking irritating response?

When I was going through severe stress, depression or anxiety a few years back I was actually diagnosed with hypersomnia.

It was my body's way of coping with stress. It would just shut down and I'd have to sleep. I never felt better after sleeping either.

@stilldontgiveaf yes! I feel even more tired when I wake up! Did they do anything or give you anything?

My doctors here are very matter of fact. I feel like they'd think I'm some kind of precious little flower if I went to them with this.

Unfortunately hypersomnia isn't treatable through meds. It's more about lifestyle and circumstantial changes.

I'm no where near as bad as I was. But if something remotely stressful happens, or I have a dip in my mood I will now just sleep.

I have experienced this a few times, when under great stress. Once it was when my partner left me - I was in the middle of a big row when I just became exhausted and so I let him go so I could sleep 😬. The second time was much worse, when my mum was dying. The hospital would say I needed to do such and such, and I’d just be to tired. Like everything was drained from me.

I'm like this and I think it's some sort of defence mechanism/coping strategy. It's as though my brain says "Sod this for a game of soldiers, wake me up when it's stopped".

Three times i have either received bad news of been in a very stressful situation and have gone to bed and got the best night's sleep ever! It doesn't happen with 'ordinary' bad news or stress though. I've never heard of it happening to anyone else.

And I felt more able to cope when I woke up.

I was going to suggest it was the other way around, which happens to me, but obviously not as you can link your tiredness to specific events.

I have an anxiety disorder and a sleep disorder, I also feel exhausted if I am in a stressful situation or my anxiety is triggered. If I have had a busy week I will struggle to wake up on a day off. At my worst I could sleep for 26 hours and would wake up quite unwell. Its like my minds coping mechanism.

Yes it's like my brain can't take being sad and shuts down!

I had severe depression years ago and it very nearly ended badly. I'm wondering if it's my clever body's way of protecting itself.

It's awful though, I've got so much to do to try and get everything ready so I can fly home and I can't stay awake.

If I’ve cried (very very rare) I fall asleep during. It’s very odd. Like tv narcoleptic style fall asleep dramatically mid sob. Good job I’m not a sensitive soul really

@cherryblossomgin I also suffer from anxiety and a sleep disorder. Although I'm sleeping a lot better now due to a low dose of antihistamine I take.

Being anxious, stressed or angry seems to make me more awake though.

It's just sadness that makes me nod off at any given moment.

@TheDarkPassenger YES! I've nodded off mid cry. I'm glad it's not just me and my stupid brain.

I've actually asked dh to leave work and pick up ds. I just don't trust myself driving. I'd never forgive myself if I crashed.

I did the same when I was 19 & my Dad was dying. For the whole 5months I'd nod off all the time & sleep from 10pm to mid day the next day. Missed lots of lectures. I just couldn't hack the stress. And I used to get really over the top wound up with falling outs etc but seem to have got over that now with age.