[Gabyunbound]

A couple of days ago I found myself sleeping 13 hours over night and then sleeping the entire day on the couch. I couldn't help myself. I began to think that maybe I was coming down with a virus, though with no other symptoms, I couldn't be sure. Then I worked yesterday and left early because I wasn't feeling 'quite right.' I couldn't describe it, but I knew I was feeling down, but still thought I was coming down with something.

Now I AM really down. And last night I went to bed very very early, and proceeded to sleep for over 15 hours. I don't have to work until this afternoon (I'm a per diem worker in the healthcare industry) and I feel barely able to do that. I'm very tired/sleepy and feeling so down. I'm afraid that I'm going into a depressive episode.

And then today I find that my cat is ill -again. She has a tumor in her abdomen and she's been near death a couple of times before and each time, I'm afraid that this is 'it.' I feel even worse. I need to get her pain meds. I will call her vet before I go to work to send the prescription to the compounding pharmacy. I might have to wait to pick it up tomorrow because I got up too late.

Do any of you find that sleeping an enormous amount proceeds depression? That before you start feeling depressed -or fully- you sleep like this, and only start to feel the depression a couple of days afterwards? Between how down I started feeling yesterday -before my cat got sick- and today -now that she's sick again- I'm in tears. I hope I can put on a decent face for work and get the work done in an adequate way.

So does anyone get this pattern of excessive sleep and THEN depression? Or did I not realize that I was depressed in the first place, that is, when I was sleeping so much...?

I'm so scared. I just want to head this off. Already depressed, I'm afraid that my cat's illness will push me off the edge... I feel so terrible for her, for her pain, and being alone in that pain, and, selfishly, for my own loneliness if, in fact, this is 'it.' I want all of this to go away. I need the depression to lift to I can better take of her.

[Daonnachd]

I'm almost always able to sleep like you've done, but then I also seem to almost always drag along in a low grade depression. -Except this morning, today I woke up at 5 energetic and alert.-

I'm sorry you're not feeling well, and I include your cat in that.

I wonder, are there other indicators which might hint at the onset of an episode? I'm thinking of being more emotional or isolationist in the days before the long sleep?

a'best

[Sunflower123]

Usually at the onset of my depression, I sleep excessively and eat excessively or not at all. They usually start right around the same time. I hope you feel better soon and I hope your cat pulls through ok. Sending big hugs.

[boogiesmash]

Sleeping excessively is also a sign of depression. I've slept entire weekends away. Sometimes I don't feel sad but bed and staying bed is a sign of depression

[SheilaKathy]

Yes, before my last big depression, I had real trouble getting up in the mornings. I remember that. I could not figure out what was going on. Then the depression hit and I realized it was the depression coming on that had caused it. HUGS.

[Cocosurviving]

I also agree. Before depression fully sets in with me. The excessive sleep starts. Speak to your pdoc (if you have one). I really hope your cat gets better too. I have a puppy and I love her like she was one of my kids

[Mehraban]

Originally Posted by Gabyunbound

A couple of days ago I found myself sleeping 13 hours over night and then sleeping the entire day on the couch. I couldn't help myself. I began to think that maybe I was coming down with a virus, though with no other symptoms, I couldn't be sure. Then I worked yesterday and left early because I wasn't feeling 'quite right.' I couldn't describe it, but I knew I was feeling down, but still thought I was coming down with something.

Now I AM really down. And last night I went to bed very very early, and proceeded to sleep for over 15 hours. I don't have to work until this afternoon (I'm a per diem worker in the healthcare industry) and I feel barely able to do that. I'm very tired/sleepy and feeling so down. I'm afraid that I'm going into a depressive episode.

And then today I find that my cat is ill -again. She has a tumor in her abdomen and she's been near death a couple of times before and each time, I'm afraid that this is 'it.' I feel even worse. I need to get her pain meds. I will call her vet before I go to work to send the prescription to the compounding pharmacy. I might have to wait to pick it up tomorrow because I got up too late.

Do any of you find that sleeping an enormous amount proceeds depression? That before you start feeling depressed -or fully- you sleep like this, and only start to feel the depression a couple of days afterwards? Between how down I started feeling yesterday -before my cat got sick- and today -now that she's sick again- I'm in tears. I hope I can put on a decent face for work and get the work done in an adequate way.

So does anyone get this pattern of excessive sleep and THEN depression? Or did I not realize that I was depressed in the first place, that is, when I was sleeping so much...?

I'm so scared. I just want to head this off. Already depressed, I'm afraid that my cat's illness will push me off the edge... I feel so terrible for her, for her pain, and being alone in that pain, and, selfishly, for my own loneliness if, in fact, this is 'it.' I want all of this to go away. I need the depression to lift to I can better take of her.

Something that comes with depression is excessive empathy. from the way that you talk about your cat it seems "to me" that you are empathizing too much. I'm not saying that you shouldn't care,but don't you think you are empathizing too much. I am known by people around me to be a kind person, but I wouldn't be hurt to this level for the situation that you describe about your cat. I have dealt with depression before. I know how it feels like. Please, talk to your psychiatrist and psychologist about it as soon as possible,There was one time that I was doing very bad and my psychiatrist somehow squeezed me in his schedule and saw me as what is almost was an " Emergency visit". and one of the other things that I learned over the 17 years that I have bipolar disorder is that it is a good idea that your therapist and psychiatrist be in contact with each other, and tell everything to them. And of course your excessive sleep and lack of enthusiasm to work is a sign of depression.

[Gabyunbound]

Originally Posted by Mehraban

Something that comes with depression is excessive empathy. from the way that you talk about your cat it seems "to me" that you are empathizing too much. I'm not saying that you shouldn't care,but don't you think you are empathizing too much. I am known by people around me to be a kind person, but I wouldn't be hurt to this level for the situation that you describe about your cat. I have dealt with depression before. I know how it feels like. Please, talk to your psychiatrist and psychologist about it as soon as possible,There was one time that I was doing very bad and my psychiatrist somehow squeezed me in his schedule and saw me as what is almost was an " Emergency visit". and one of the other things that I learned over the 17 years that I have bipolar disorder is that it is a good idea that your therapist and psychiatrist be in contact with each other, and tell everything to them. And of course your excessive sleep and lack of enthusiasm to work is a sign of depression.

I agree that it is best that one's pdoc and T communicate well with each other and that when there's a crisis, it's best to try to be seen asap and get fit in.

On the other hand, I do not agree that excessive empathy goes hand in hand with depression or BP in general. I have no children, my cat has been with me for 15 years, and she is like a child to me, and always has been, depressed or not. She hasn't eaten for almost a week, and I'm afraid that once again she is at the cusp of death. This is devastating for me. I don't mean to offend, but I don't think you would be talking of excessive empathy if I were writing about a very very sick child. As I say, depressed or not, my cat means everything to me.

Certainly her being so ill contributes to my depression as watching her pass away, slowly, like this is excruciatingly painful. I am now at a crossroads as to whether to take her to a 24/7 hospital for temporary tube feeding, in the hopes that she will go back to eating on her own, or to allow her to waste away in front of my eyes. It's a choice I have to make. Because tube feeding may only be putting off the inevitable and I may want it only because I, myself, am unable to accept her death at this time; if ever.

As I say, the extent of her illness does make my depression far worse. I wish this weren't the case, both for her -who is clearly suffering- and for me, who, as a human being, does not want her to suffer. At the moment, my focus needs to be on her; I think she is suffering more than I, and needs help to not feel so uncomfortable. If this is empathy (or sympathy, they are two very different things), then so be it.

[Shazerac]

Ditto to almost everything said here. Sleeping a lot is my warming sign that depression has raised it's ugly head. Usually wake up around 7 am. When I wake up, look at the clock and it's 9 or 10..... I know the ugly dog has arrived.

I've never noticed I sleep more before the depression, just that I sleep more while depressed. I'm still trying to learn my warning signs so it's possible I do sleep more prior but I've not registered it yet when it's happened. I'm currently sleeping more than norm and am on the depressed side.....but we are having a heat wave....it was 112 yesterday.....that could really be adding to my sleep.