Safe Solutions That Will Help You Deal With Excessive Sleepiness

18:04 23 January 2021

Some people can’t sleep a wink, while others (like you perhaps) want nothing but to douse themselves with a good coffee both inside and out, hoping it will finally put them awake. While a coffee bath does sound incredibly appealing, excessive caffeine consumption can be a destructive habit. It also doesn’t guarantee that your days of sluggishness and sleepiness will be gone, instead, you may just be setting yourself up for another set of tiring tomorrows.

 

Excessive sleepiness, or the feeling of drowsiness at daytime when you are expected to be the most productive is a problem that requires your full attention. It can affect your daily work and even personal relationships. What causes it and how can you say goodbye to literal “daydreaming”? Read on and stay awake to find out.

 

Possible Causes of Excessive Sleepiness

 

To arrive at the best and safest solution, it is best to pinpoint what causes your “sleepy” problem. Consider what your body experiences from time-to-time and determine which of these might be causing your excessive sleepiness.

 

Aging 

 

Several studies concluded that when people get older, the quality of their sleep also decreases. Some may report being able to sleep but only lightly, even waking up in the middle of the night. This nightly sleep disruption may lead to excessive sleepiness during the day as the body will want to make up for the lost sleep.

 

Depression

 

While the causes of depression itself are another whole topic of its own, it would be helpful to be able to identify whether your lack of (or excess) sleep is connected to depression. Individuals who find it hard to sleep at night because of depression may tend to sleep during the day instead. A drastic change in sleep schedule is an early warning sign of this condition. 

 

Medication Side Effects

 

If you are on medication, take note of the side effects that your medicine might possibly conjure. Some drugs naturally cause drowsiness like antidepressants, antipsychotics, antihistamines (for nasal congestion), and antiemetics (for vomiting and nausea). 

 

Narcolepsy

 

Narcolepsy is a rather uncommon neurological disorder that entails sudden sleep even in between meals and conversations. Having this disorder means your body’s sleep-wake cycle is not working as it should. With Narcolepsy, it is possible to sleep a-okay during the night, only that this feeling of uncalled drowsiness may continue during the day.

 

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)

 

As the name suggests, Restless Legs Syndrome is the strong urge of moving both of your legs even during the night-time when you are supposed to be peacefully relaxing in the dream world. This sleep disruption happens like this: you lay still, then your legs will feel a throbbing sensation that will only stop if you get and keep moving.

 

Sleep Apnea

 

Sleep Apnea is a serious medical condition that can be traced to other underlying heart problems. Its symptoms include breathing problems during sleep, attention problems, and irritability. Sleep Apnea keeps you from getting enough sleep during the night and therefore causes excessive sleeping the next day.

 

Safe Solutions to Combat Excessive Sleepiness

 

Excessive sleepiness isn’t something to sleep on, especially when it could be severely affecting your health and life. As we said, taking caffeine isn’t the best solution for your drowsiness as it can lead to more serious problems later on. If we are talking about safer alternative solutions, here is what you can do instead to combat excessive sleepiness.

 

Turn the Lights On

 

If you ever heard your elders scold you for reading in the dark, then they are within reason. While toggling your phones or reading your books in dim lighting will not actually worsen your eyesight, it will still make your eyes tire faster. The reason why people are naturally awake in the daytime is because of sunlight so it makes sense that keeping the lights on when you need to get work done is the way to go. 

 

Safe Medication

 

Everything taken in excess is bad for you. While it is true that most – if not all medications have side effects, disciplined use of drugs, particularly psychostimulants, can help you tackle your excessive sleep problems. You can even expect cognitive enhancements, because according to modafinil.com when drugs are taken at the right time in the right dosage, side effects can run from mild to non-existent. With careful reviews and guided prescription, you will eventually find yourself awake with vigor and energy! 

 

Give Your Eyes a Rest

 

Just because the lights are on does not mean you can go ahead and work nonstop. Give time for your eyes to rest. Studies show that whenever you are focused on something, whether that be reading or watching something on the screen, you tend to blink less often. Blinking is essential as it spreads moisture and keeps your eyes from dryness. Set a timer for when you need to stop and close your eyes for a moment. 

 

Stimulate Your Mind By Switching Tasks

 

A few hours of doing one thing is called “focus”. Doing it for another few hours might just get “boring”. Switch your task so your brain would not feel so relaxed to the point of sleeping. You can either opt for other more stimulating tasks that challenge your mind further, or even take a break – eat some energy-boosting snacks (grains, legumes), drink water, or take a short walk. You can bask in the sunlight and gaze at something green and cool for some time, then come back feeling refreshed.

 

Staying awake during the daytime and sleeping soundly at night is all possible, thanks to our body’s natural circadian rhythm. Regulate your sleep-wake cycle by perpetuating healthy lifestyle habits such as staying in a brightly lit place, eating nutritious energy-sustaining foods, and taking safe medications. Give yourself time to rest when appropriate, and exercise often.

 

Always remember, when your body is productive and moving all day, it expects a deep sleep at night. Conversely, a full sleep at night means a bright and energetic day ahead!