[CozyMellie]

Do you find that naps help you or do you think that they aggravate your symptoms and throw your sleep schedule off? How long do you nap?

I'm curious. I don't often get a chance to take naps but I did yesterday for about 1hr - 1.5 and it threw my sleep schedule off by a few hours. :-/

[eleckra69]

Only if it's a quick cat nap does it help. Otherwise I'm to groggy when I wake up from a long nap!

[meina]

hi, sleep is one's individual need. Each one of us deserves different hours of sleep and nap as well. Nap is not necessary if you are not used to it. The important thing is how much deep and relaxing sleep or nap you have that after it, you feel relaxed, energetic and refreshed. hope it will help you. thanks

[vans1974]

I love naps, they recharge me. I'd love to take more of them but I can't at work!

[Hopeful Camel]

I limit myself to no more than 1 hour naps, otherwise they throw my sleep schedule off. Otherwise, I think they can be refreshing and help change your mood if you are off-kilter. I took one today and woke up feeling much better than when I lay down.

I love taking naps. On weekends, when I can, my naps last anywhere from 90 mins to 5 hours And, no, I don't mind that they offset my sleep schedule, because they do me a lot of good, both emotionally and physically. Emotionally, sleep kind of resets my mind, reduces my anxiety, and prepares me for the morning/evening ahead.

Physically ?!!! I'm biased coz I lift heavy weights, and sleep is absolutely essential to reducing muscle fatigue and building muscle. Sleep is a period of heightened anabolism. SLEEP ROCKS !!!

[gubernova]

Naps for me are essential!!! They divide the day in two and make it much easier to handle. I have a lot of anxiety and it builds during the day; a nap hits the refresh button.

[lilypup]

I used to take a lot of naps, but since I have all these meds on board, I am too wired.

[wildflowerchild25]

If I am taking naps I am depressed. I've been napping for weeks. Trying to shake it off.

[~Christina]

Naps mess with my normal sleep patterns so I don't ever take them.

[BipolaRNurse]

Nothing's better than a good power nap! As long as I only sleep ~ 1 hr. it doesn't throw off my nighttime routine, and I feel refreshed. If I sleep 2 hrs. or more, I'm sluggish and tired for the rest of the day.

It's funny, I was SO resistant to naps as a child, and now I love them.

[crubba67]

I take a nap every day for at least a hour sometimes 2 or 3. The meds I take really wipe me out so the nap doesn't effect my sleep schedule. I find that after I wake that I have the energy to be productive again so I really don't feel guilty for sleeping a couple of hours during the day.

[CozyMellie]

Thanks for the responses everyone.

Very interesting to hear how everyone reacts differently. I think I need to just keep my naps under an hour and I will be fine!

[Parks]

Originally Posted by wildflowerchild25

If I am taking naps I am depressed. I've been napping for weeks. Trying to shake it off.

Same here Sleeping 8 hours generally means I'm flat too.

[cmorales]

I take two kinds of naps. Either power naps, if I need to be up later than normal or recharge or depressive naps where I just can't really function so the only option is attempt to "sleep it off" for a while and see if it helps any... usually it helps a little bit, at least to curb the agitation and irritability.

[bondgirl]

Who doesn't love a good nap? They're great for recharging you!

[jordan23]

I love a good nap!