Question
Ever since high school, I've always had the problem of going to sleep and sleeping too deeply, and being unable to wake up with my alarm even when I set 2 of them and put them on opposite sides of my bedroom. Normally I don't remember my dreams at all, nor do I remember the alarms going off. Right now, I work night shift, which is something I neither can't or want to give up, it's a great job at a hotel where I do night sudit, so it gives me a great opportunity to advance in my career field once I finish my education. I also took a 2nd job waitressing(just dinners, so I didn't think it would disrupt my sleep schedule too much) so I could save money between now and when I return to college, which I was fired from very quickly because I kept oversleeping despite setting 2 alarms, often now even if I go to sleep at 10 am and set my alarm for 5:30 pm I still don't wake up untill 8 pm or so!
I'm wondering what could be causing this, in any case I need to become a lighter sleeper who can function off of 6 hours sleep, as I start college again in 2 months and if I got fired from the waitressing job, I certainly don't want to end up flunking out of college or worse, being fired from my hotel job, because of oversleeping. How do I do this? And thanks.
Answer
If you are sleepy during the daytime then you could have narcolepsy which is the uncontrollable urge to fall asleep at inappropriate times and many narcoleptics have trouble awakening. Isuggest you go to sleepnet.com click on disorders narcolepsy, You might consider going to a sleep center for a consultation and possible an overnight sleep study, your local hospital can refer you. Also on sleepnet. are sleep forums where you can search inability to awaken in the morning. You might try going to be a couple of hours earlier which sometimes the normal body needs at least 8 hours of sleep you only getting 6 is depriving yourself, so if you sleep the full 8 hours you may find it easier to awaken. Go to sleepnet also and click on disorders night shift, working swing shift jobs can run havoc on ones own sleep cycle. also go to talk about sleep .com go to their calendar of events, usually once a week you can go online and ask experts sleep questions. feel free to email again karel
