AIBU to not understand falling asleep by accident?

[Aulwan]

I know IABU but I can't seem to start a thread in chat. Anyway I have never in my life just "fallen asleep" e.g. on the couch, reading in bed etc. I have to decide to go to sleep and it takes a while. It's always a decision, it never just happens. I seem to be alone though based on all the people falling asleep all over the place! Anyone else like this or am I just wierd?

The only place I've dropped off, is in the cinema

I'm usually the same, but a few years ago when I was on maternity, I fell asleep in my mums on the couch while she was talking to me. I have no idea why, ds wasn't even a bad sleeper so I wasn't overly tired. She was not amused.

I also fell asleep on the train once and missed my stop.

My DH is one of those instant sleepers. He's hardly said goodnight and he's asleep. I'm so jealous 😂

If sleeping was an Olympic sport, I'd be such a legendary medal winner you'd have to call me Dame Bipbipbipbip.

I had awful insomnia when pregnant so basically didn't sleep between the hours of 1am and 5am for 5 months. Hellish.

I always fall asleep on the sofa at night and usually until. About 2am when I get up and go bed I just can't help it

I'm an awful sleeper and spend hours awake at night so I occasionally nod off in my chair on an evening but I always know it's coming and could get up and walk about and stop it happening! I have a friend who used to often fall asleep by accident when she was meant to be picking her kids up from school. I definitely couldn't do that, if I was exhausted and getting uncontrollably sleepy, I'd set an alarm.

I never fall asleep by accident either. Can honestly say I’ve never dropped off in front of the TV - I wouldn’t be able to tune the sound out enough. Can’t sleep in cars either and on aeroplanes only when I’m really very tired and it’s my actual bedtime and it’s quiet and darkish. Even then it’s fitful and I’m not rested. I need a nice dark quiet bedroom with a soft warm bed. Don’t have much problem getting to sleep usually though I don’t fall asleep as my head hits the pillow and never have! I’ve been exhausted and longing to sleep lying on a sofa for example and still nothing.

Maddie I'm 55, still a crap sleeper.

@Lindy2 happens to me all the time! I’m reading dd a story, in the near dark. I start spouting nonsense and then the words trail off mid sentence, followed by “wakey wakey mummy... story!” From dd.

I fall asleep very easily in bed and if I'm tired doze off on the sofa/in the cinema/after a bath.
Once fell asleep stood up at work, thankfully caught myself before I actually fell and when I was pregnant used to drop off polishing glasses whilst sat down 😁

I can never sleep when travelling - on trains, planes, buses etc.

I can easily drop off in front of the TV in the evening though. I never intend to, but it happens regularly.

I am 53 now and definitely perimenopausal. I find that with that my sleeping patterns are changing. I now sleep in shortish bursts two or three times a night with wakeful periods in between. It's a pain in the arse.

I can fall asleep watching a film, using my laptop, reading a book, etc. and I found that if I play a couple of games on my tablet I'm out like a light.

I wonder if it’s something to do with melatonin or some other hormone?

Mind you, my DH finds it hard to get to sleep, but drinks 10+ cups of caffeinated tea and coffee each day. I’ve tried suggesting he switches to decaf, but apparently “caffeine doesn’t affect him”

I sometimes just "crash" when watching TV. I have had a stressful day followed by a 4 hour drive. I am sat on the settee and just crashed a few minutes ago. My question is how come some people don't?

I never used to just fall asleep either. Now, early starts and pregnancy mean I struggle to stay awake. I'm always falling asleep at the moment.

I think people are just born this way! I can sleep pretty much anywhere and in any situation. I accidentally fall asleep a lot, from around 8.30 on an evening, but I find it a bit depressing because I don’t have a life as I’m just falling asleep all the time. I also fall asleep during the morning or during the afternoon, on public transport, in the car, on the settee... anywhere. My mom said that I used to fall asleep whilst walking as a toddler and she’d realise she was just holding me up by the arm and dragging me along. I also fell asleep in my dinner and on the toilet. I actually hate falling asleep in front of other people but I am very grateful that sleep comes so easily to me now that I’m married to a man who really struggles to drop off.

I used to nod off at school.. Then at work (in my office job, not on the shop floor!)

Now I can take a nap when I like. My favourite place to snooze is when DH is driving us somewhere. It's warm, comfortable and just sends me zzzz

I can get sleepy when I drive too which I really have to fight. I'll stop and go for a short walk, get a coffee or snack.

My husband is the same @Aulwan. He will even say ‘Yes, I’m really worried about x too, but there’s nothing we can do about it now, so let’s come at it fresh in the morning, OK?’ And he will turn over, his breathing will change, and he’s dead to the world and dreaming nice dreams, smiling slightly, while I’m lying there screaming silently at the dark. Aargh.

I can't imagine falling asleep by accident, either. I'm super tired tonight but stalling about getting into bed coz it is just so boring waiting & waiting to sleep.

I get a lot of exercise and more 'deep' sleep than most women my age, says Fitbit (15-18%? is my norm) In last few years I can often fall asleep within 15 minutes once I'm in bed, which is nice.

I can never sleep on trains/planes/buses, or in the car either. Many long haul flights where they have dished the blankets out, dimmed the lights and I am wide awake while everyone sleeps around me wearing their eye masks.
I am so envious of the sleeping travellers.

I also fall asleep reading to the children! I start to dream a bit and say odd things where my thoughts are wandering. I once fully fell asleep for half an hour mid sentence and my son just sat there in silence because it meant he got extra time before going to sleep. He couldn’t do anything though, just stayed perfectly still

I've never fallen asleep in front of the TV or anything like that. I've dozed on the sofa, but that's been a conscious decision to close my eyes and do so. I've never just fallen asleep, that I can remember, without being aware of the fact I'm going to or having control over it. I can get to sleep fine when I want to, though!

I fall asleep watching the telly, I can feel my eyelids getting heavier and then bamb I'm asleep. Sometimes it annoys me if I had wanted to watch that movie but other times I pull the blanket up around me, nodding off , wishing I was able to sleep all night comfortably on the couch without waking up cold and bent out of shape in the middle of the night.
When my own children were babies I was always advised to get them used to napping with the radio on or some background noise and not even in a darkened room.....
I wonder if this is how I was brought up too, and now I only need to turn on the telly and zzzzz

If I am tired as soon as I am somewhere warm and comfortable with no bright lights I will fall asleep uncontrollably eg in the cinema - it doesn't matter how exciting the film is either.