[Bark]

No matter how much I sleep, I'm always tired, to varying degrees. And often, when I try to study, it hits me like a ton of rocks. It seems like when I have the energy, I get distracted or procrastinate, and by the time I settle down to study, I want to go to sleep.

It seems like most of the time I want to study, I'm either tired or depressed (or both).

I'm pretty darn sure it's mostly due to the medication I'm on, but since it's been working great otherwise, and because it's the middle of the semester, I don't want to make any changes. I've decreased my dose by half, to seemingly no effect.

Suggestions?

[atomicc]

Hmm I wish I could help. I have the same problem and I also always leave it to the last minute. Like today I have four pages of Spanish hw, a lab to do and two midterms Monday and Tuesday I haven't studied for. It all makes me anxious so I avoid it. all I can say is put your head down and barrel through it. That's what I do.

[Travelinglady]

Could be the meds, bark. Have you been able to talk to your prescriber about what might help?

Of course, depression causes tiredness, too.

[Bark]

Originally Posted by PAYNE1

Could be the meds, bark. Have you been able to talk to your prescriber about what might help?

Of course, depression causes tiredness, too.

I've spoken to my psychiatrist, and he said I could try halving the dose. Doesn't seem to have done much.

Of course, but it seems my sleep issues, memory problems, attention problems... are blamed on my depression, even when I'm not depressed!

[Lillyleaf]

I have memory problems and so on because of my medication. :O Sometimes you can only have some symptoms of depression and not all of them... Thoughts?

[Bark]

Originally Posted by Lillyleaf

I have memory problems and so on because of my medication. :O Sometimes you can only have some symptoms of depression and not all of them... Thoughts?

Possible, but why only sleep and memory but nothing else?

The only times I can recall waking up rested are when I've slept too little (I crash later) or when I was hypomanic (which my psychiatrist said I couldn't be because I was able to go to sleep for a good number of hours). Sleep has been a lifelong problem for me. I think it might continue to be. :/

[Lillyleaf]

You can still be hypomanic and sleep. o.0 Generally speaking, you don't have to match every criteria just a bunch of them for hypomania. Sleep is a lifelong problem for many :/ your not alone... I wish you luck!

[RomanSunburn]

I'm sorry I don't know you very well, so this might not apply to you. But when I've had trouble with being constantly tired in the past, I tend to get my iron levels checked. Knowing that about myself, I take vitamins every day. I've also changed where and how I do my homework. I do almost everything sitting at a table and I take notes when I'm reading to help me stay engaged and focused. If I start to have trouble focusing, I get up, walk around a bit, maybe make a cup of tea or even take a little break, and then try to get back to it. If I take a break, I try to put a specific end time on it and stick to it.

[Bark]

Originally Posted by RomanSunburn

I'm sorry I don't know you very well, so this might not apply to you. But when I've had trouble with being constantly tired in the past, I tend to get my iron levels checked. Knowing that about myself, I take vitamins every day. I've also changed where and how I do my homework. I do almost everything sitting at a table and I take notes when I'm reading to help me stay engaged and focused. If I start to have trouble focusing, I get up, walk around a bit, maybe make a cup of tea or even take a little break, and then try to get back to it. If I take a break, I try to put a specific end time on it and stick to it.

I'm on a supplement for a vitamin deficiency, but I haven't felt the effects, if any, yet. As far as I know everything else for me is normal.

I think where and how is very important for me. And I know I should stick to a schedule. I was really motivated around the beginning of the semester, but that has waned. I think it comes down to me just pushing myself to study even if I'm just going to fall asleep at the desk. Then again, when you're really tired, you don't feel like doing anything. Last night I lied down and... pretty much didn't get back up again. You should have seen me reaching for my meds last night... I was stretching and trying to reach them without having to get up.

I feel more awake today, so I guess that's a good thing. I've been wondering if I am maybe a bit depressed and just don't realize it.... I don't know.

[RomanSunburn]

Where I am, the sun has started setting REALLY early, and we still have months to go until the shortest day of the year... And then if it's a rainy day? Oh boy, watch out covers, here I come. But the weather and the lack of sunlight could be having an affect (effect?) on you. You could investigate getting one of those fake sunlight lamps. I sleep with my blinds open so any possibility of sun can come through in the morning (but then, I also have a tendency to sleep with a pillow on my head... So those two might be canceling each other out).

And this is going to sound trite, but I've found exercise has helped with my energy levels. It seems a little counter-intuitive... expend energy to get more energy... But apparently it works. I know in the winter that gets a lot harder.

Do you like what you're studying? Do you find it interesting? It's a lot more difficult to get excited about studying something you have no interest in.

I definitely had to stop doing homework sitting in my bed (in an apartment that's a lot easier than in a 6' x 6' dorm room). I've taken so many naps with so many of my textbooks...

Just keep trying. I'm sure your body is going to resist any changes right now, but I bet if you can keep at it, you'll pull through. And even after making a bunch of changes and you're still having trouble, I'd go back to your doctor, either a pdoc or maybe a GP.

[Ne5o2]

Common phenomenon in study..lol. books causing hypersomnia. What I did I hook on 3 cups of nescafe to stay awake plus some stress, now I'm fully awake. Is time to throw away all d electronic stuff coz they re distraction themselves.. is time to start d engine n eat d books before my exam tomorrow (look at the piles of books)..

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk

[coleychi]

Originally Posted by Bark

Possible, but why only sleep and memory but nothing else?

The only times I can recall waking up rested are when I've slept too little (I crash later) or when I was hypomanic (which my psychiatrist said I couldn't be because I was able to go to sleep for a good number of hours). Sleep has been a lifelong problem for me. I think it might continue to be. :/

i was on a sleeping pill (sonata) with clonazepam at the beginning of the semester and my psychiatrist told me that the combo could be contributing to my memory issues. i've stopped taking the sonata and use the clonazepam more sparingly and found that my memory has actually improved (i think).

i can also relate to being tired all the time. on the days i don't have classes, getting out of bed/actually thinking about doing something productive is a whole battle. sleeping feels so much better. i, despite my tiredness, am actually a morning person... i have the most energy when (well, if) i get out of bed and it exponentially decreases throughout the day until about 5/6 when i feel like i can't be out of bed any longer. my advice (or what has worked for me) would be to find the time in the day you have the most energy and try to stick your study sessions into there. it's not the perfect solution because i don't study/read as much as i'd like to... but at least it's getting done.

and also-- just staying motivated/setting goals is helpful, for me at least. if i know i want to get ace my classes and that x, y, and z have to get done i'll find a way to do it... even if, with my depression, it means doing the reading in bed as a pdf or via an e-reader. good luck! just know you're not alone in the constant exhaustion paired with the desire to study/do well in your classes