[Skeezyks]

I'm wondering if anyone has had experience with Sundown Syndrome. For a while now, I've been experiencing what, to me, sounds similar to what I've read about it.

Every afternoon, starting around 4:30 or 5 PM, I experience a noticeable increase in my anxiety level. I also begin to feel a slight dizziness along with what I suppose might be referred to as depersonalization / derealization. (I'm actually in the midst of it as I write this.) It's a strange feeling as though I'm kind-of mentally collapsing in on myself... if that makes any sense. Sometimes I even feel as though my gait is a bit off... sort-of heavy as though I'm walking through mud or perhaps wearing lead-weighted shoes.

I've read that Sundown Syndrome is sometimes associated with dementia, but not always. (I don't think I have dementia... at least not yet.) And I don't think there's anything to be done about it. I just ignore it as best I can & go about whatever it is I'm doing, typically eating dinner & then cleaning up afterward. (It does seem to moderate as as the evening progresses.) But I am interested in anyone else's experiences with it. Thanx!

[unaluna]

Idk. Altho i did notice in this week leading up to daylight saving going off, that i went to bed earlier and earlier, as if my body knew it was "falling back".

Also, even tho for some of us, life during covid isnt too much different from before, i am noticing myself to be more aware of when is the end of the day. Altho again thats recent, and may be influenced by a med change.

Do you take an afternoon nap?

[Skeezyks]

Originally Posted by unaluna

Do you take an afternoon nap?

Thanks for replying to my post! No I don't typically take an afternoon nap. Occasionally I do. What's more likely is that I'll fall asleep watching TV or listening to music during the evening. I try to stay awake during the day as much as possible so I'll be able to sleep (again as much as possible) at night. But I often don't do a very good job of either one.

[CalMSW]

I'm sorry to hear about your symptoms. Both my mom and my mother-in-law had dementia along with Sundown Syndrome. We noticed things they said made less sense at the end of the day, and they also had more anxiety. The following article may be helpful: Sundowner'''s syndrome: Symptoms, causes, treatment, tips, and more

[Skeezyks]

Originally Posted by CalMSW

I'm sorry to hear about your symptoms. Both my mom and my mother-in-law had dementia along with Sundown Syndrome. We noticed things they said made less sense at the end of the day, and they also had more anxiety. The following article may be helpful: Sundowner'''s syndrome: Symptoms, causes, treatment, tips, and more

Thanks for replying to my post & for the link to this article. Some of the ways it describes Sundown Syndrome sound right on target in terms of what I'm experiencing. But other parts don't sound relevant to me at all. So I don't know. Perhaps I'm simply barking up the wrong tree, so to speak? Time will tell I suppose. At least at this point, what I experience is all internal & has no effect on my spouse. In fact I haven't even mentioned it to her & don't plan to.

[NatalieJastrow]

Originally Posted by Skeezyks

Every afternoon, starting around 4:30 or 5 PM, I experience a noticeable increase in my anxiety level. I also begin to feel a slight dizziness along with what I suppose might be referred to as depersonalization / derealization. (I'm actually in the midst of it as I write this.) It's a strange feeling as though I'm kind-of mentally collapsing in on myself...

Is it related to the darkness? I know when we put the clocks back I have a feeling of anxiety / depression from the dark. It is as if I am trapped. The darkness coming so early -- I don't feel it in the summer because, typically, the darkness comes with the time i am sleeping.

The darkness I think causes anxiety because I don't feel like I see well in the dark and I feel like if anything went wrong it would be that much more difficult to deal with things. I can see someone older feeling anxiety about falling or not seeing well.

I typically go to my bedroom earlier (even if I don't sleep) to battle it.

[Skeezyks]

Originally Posted by NatalieJastrow

Is it related to the darkness? I know when we put the clocks back I have a feeling of anxiety / depression from the dark. It is as if I am trapped. The darkness coming so early -- I don't feel it in the summer because, typically, the darkness comes with the time i am sleeping.

The darkness I think causes anxiety because I don't feel like I see well in the dark and I feel like if anything went wrong it would be that much more difficult to deal with things. I can see someone older feeling anxiety about falling or not seeing well.

I typically go to my bedroom earlier (even if I don't sleep) to battle it.

Thanks for replying to my post! While I suppose the earlier sunset isn't helping, this has been going on for a while now. I'm not sure when I first began to notice it. But I've been aware of it for at least several months including throughout this past summer. You mentioned feeling trapped as a result of the darkness. In my case I feel a strong urge to go hide somewhere. Going to my bedroom would, perhaps, be one option. However my spouse would never put up with that.

[*Beth*]

During the darker months I battle depression and anxiety; the anxiety is always at its worst right around 4 p.m. I know that when 6 p.m. rolls around there will be some relief. My pdoc mentioned that what I was describing reminds her of sundown syndrome.

[gewone]

Thanks for filling me in on this, tbh I had to Google it. The more you live the more you learn.

[poshgirl]

I've also heard this mentioned in the context of dementia.

My mother is the same, although not diagnosed. It happens to her at other times of the day. A doctor has said it can be associated with dehydration and meds. In her case, the latter was proven. Her "ramblings" one day were not lack of fluids due to the very hot weather but an excess of calcium in her system. Solved that problem, but still having to remind her to drink plenty of water.

Can also be, rightly or wrongly, linked to diet. A low blood sugar level impairs our thought process and ability to do normal tasks. Unfortunately, the instant remedy isn't biscuits or cake!