[Blue_Bird]

Does anybody else just want to sleep forever when you get depressed? I mean as an escape from life. I go through weeks of being extremely happy and barely sleeping (which I recently was diagnosed with having manic episodes) then I crash emotionally into this horrible depression where I don't even want to get up or be a part of my life which is where I'm at today. I wish I could just sleep for a week at a time, I really can't stand being awake with all this time to just think about everything It's my only way to get away from reality for awhile, I know the depression will end and I'll be happy again at some point,or manic. but when I crash it's very hard..it just hits me like a ton of bricks and weighs me down so much

[LadyShadow]

I often feel this, especially when I used to work. I can relate. I hope you can come out of it soon. Just keep posting, and pouring out your feelings. It will help. Sending you gentle hugs and a good rest soon.

[BlueInanna]

Yes I did this today, yesterday, quite a bit of last week. I was thinking about feeling maybe I'm reflecting and processing the wild 3 month hypo just ended. Sleep must do something healing for me. Hoping I'll come out of it tomorrow with a clearer mind - I have to be able to work. Cliche but I tell myself it will pass and a better functioning time is coming soon. I wish the same for you

Yes when I get low I barely get out of bed. I will let myself sleep for a couple days/week before I start to get more depressed then I need to cut it way back and try really really hard to get out of bed and outside so I can crawl my way out of it again. Sometimes it is too hard though, sleeping is such a great break from my brain and life. I can totally relate.

[Phoenix_1]

In October 2005 I lost my business, declared bankruptcy, and my common law husband walked out on me. I spent 3 weeks in bed, not leaving the house. Fortunately I had lots of dry and canned food in the house, and I would nibble. I kept water by the bed and only wanted to get up to have bath once a week because I felt so yucky without bathing.
At the time I had two little dogs, a bichon and a poodle-terrier mix. The bichon was Joe Cool. He'd go eat and drink and come back upstairs and just plop down on the floor beside the bed when he felt like it. The other dog stuck to me like glue. She knew something was very wrong and she wouldn't leave my side. She was by my side 24/7, sleeping on the bed with me. She would not even leave me to eat or drink, unless I went down to the kitchen and watched her eat and drink. I knew I had to take care of my dogs and every day I got up to feed them and give them water, and put them out. I think that having someone to care for can really help. And dogs are very easy to care for. I was lucky that I was 52 and my kids were grown up and married.
I always say that my dogs saved my life. Who knows what might have happened if I hadn't had them to care for. I wasn't suicidal, just extremely depressed, but in the past I've been anorexic when very depressed and have gone down to 90 pounds.
After 3 weeks I dragged my sorry butt to the doctor and got some AD.

Bluebird, I understand what you mean about wanting to sleep forever. When I'm very depressed, going to bed is a relief from the stress of analyzing my mood disorder so much. Then when it's time to get out of bed, I just dread it.

Throughout my severe depression of a couple of weeks ago, I forced myself to stay in bed no more than 8 hours a night, and no naps during the day. A psychiatrist once told me that sleeping too much can worsen your depression. So now I'm scared to sleep too much or to take naps. I'm sure that'll change as my depression continues to improve.

[ultramar]

I know the feeling of wanting to sleep...forever. It's a great escape.

Have you considered talking to your pdoc about a change in medication --what are you taking now?

[Patsy Cline]

I definitely use sleep as a drug when I'm super low. Depression is exhausting. Sleeping is the only thing that helps me escape, even if only temporarily.

I hope things look up soon.

[Mollywisk]

Originally Posted by newgal2

Bluebird, I understand what you mean about wanting to sleep forever. When I'm very depressed, going to bed is a relief from the stress of analyzing my mood disorder so much. Then when it's time to get out of bed, I just dread it.

Throughout my severe depression of a couple of weeks ago, I forced myself to stay in bed no more than 8 hours a night, and no naps during the day. A psychiatrist once told me that sleeping too much can worsen your depression. So now I'm scared to sleep too much or to take naps. I'm sure that'll change as my depression continues to improve.

I've been doing the same- trying to make sure I don't Nap or stay in bed over 8ish hours a day. It's a huge struggle. I would love to change my pjs once a day to another pair and go back to bed!

[Blue_Bird]

Hi everyone, thanks for all of the replies, I was just recently diagnosed as being bipolar and am just now adjusting to the meds, I know it takes some time. I am feeling much better than when I wrote this thread.