Circadian Rhythm messed up

I've been out of work for 4 months. Part of it was intentional. The last month was due to taking care of my cat that past away and the fact that it is before Xmas. That isn't my issue.

I stopped using an alarm and now my sleep is whacked. Well I don't know that. I'll explain. I stay up until 2:30-3:00 am then cannot get up before 10:30. I figure I am a night person by nature but have been living by society norms. I have never taken 3 or more months off and it was two months before the change. I would love to say I am productive but I can't. I think exacerbating the problem is being depressed about my career and morning my cat. In September/October I had a lot of energy for artwork but now I have a hard time with that too. I should be ready to submit work to a gallery and I am not.

I need to get a job in January but I am still unmotivated to apply. I very concerned about having to go back to a "Normal" sleep cycle. I have a plan to change my career to something more suitable but I can't right now.

I imagine this is a lot like going from a night shift to a day shift or vice versa. Are there folks that have gone through this and how have you dealt with it?

hey michanne.dont know if i can help.but i want u to know that someone cares.i an a night person.always have been.i know ur talking alot about ur job.but ur first sentences were about that and your cat.and u said that was not the issue.but i think(and i dont know) those two things are ur main issues.ur still grieving over ur cat.that maybe stupid to some.but not to me.actually.i bet there are alot of people on here that love animals like we do.do u have children? i do.and i love my children more of course.but b4 i had kids.animals were my kids.and really still are.if u cant sleep.maybe do art? if u cant do anything now.then grieve,cry.its ok.as a career change? if u can afford it.or work and do it.what about a vet.for animals(we need them at night) nurse..hosp. always open(at night) try and think of any night jobs,or jobs that u would like.but.it is holidays.they not good for me.and maybe not for u.esp.since u lost someome(ur cat).that u loved sooo very much.sorry if i didnt help.not good at this. pamj533

Thanks Pam,
I think you're right! I started thinking it was one issue and it was really another. I do not have kids and won't so my cats were my family. I could only cry twice. I can be sad but not cry. It is because of the medication I am on. I cut it back a little bit (Zoloft) but I know myself and cutting it back too much would be a bad idea. I wish I hadn't needed it.
I considered night jobs but I know what I want to do. I have an IT background but it is the kind of thing only large companies need. I can't do it pt or freelance. It is not hard for me to learn web optimation and design and that is usually small businesses so I can do freelance. That would allow me to make my own schedule. I also found an online job I can do. Eventually I would like my art to at least pay for itself or teach it. All these things take time to build which is what I hoped to do these last few months while I had some cash. But now I need to make essentially start again... Do the job I don't like but pays really well until I have enough to jump ship. I'm not complaining just a little disappointed in life.

I forgot to mention I also sleep too much in the day. Today I felt mostly awake at 8:30 but decided to sleep a little longer. Well, next think I knew the reminder for a party was going off at 1:00. I had this dream that was this weird hybrid of Battlestar Galactica and Game of Thrones mixed in with a concern about my mother's lack of interior decorating skills. I can pick it apart (one of the weirder dreams) but the point is I remember not wanting to wake up. I'm just not motivated and I want to be I just can't get myself there. Now that my cat is gone there is no one to take care of and if my career is in flux it is hard to feel productive.

Whenever I'm not employed, my sleep cycle always moves from "normal" to staying up until three or four or five, then sleeping until noon or even three PM. I believe that my actual sleep cycle is the night owl cycle.

When my dog of 14 years finally went to the happy hunting ground, I let myself grieve until I felt like it was time to get another dog. I am now blessed with a dog that makes me get up a bit earlier than I'd like, but he gets me moving, makes me play with him, and takes me for walks.

Regarding your art, I fill a lot of my time with art. Recently I hit the wall painting on canvas. I prayed about it and was led to building an "art car". It has been a fun project, and I've met more of my neighbors than I ever would have without the car. When I'm outside working on it, they always stop by to ask questions about the car. Google images has loads of photos of art cars. Maybe you will be inspired.

BTW, we both live in Colorado and this cold weather combined with long dark nights has challenged my ability to stay positive. I found that even having my desk lamp on helps me perk up. (I spend a lot of time at my computer desk these days; too cold to do much else.)

Hang in there Michanne, these troubles will pass.

Terri

Thanks Terri, there's an art car in front of meinenger's in Denver. I didn't know it was a "thing".
I found this article. I did click through to the bbc version. I think segmented sleep might actually be what I need. On about half my days I have been doing it. Except in the afternoon.

I have had the same issues and am also from Colorado. But I was recently hospitalized for suicidal ideation. As a result I am staying with family in Colorado. I have been very depressed, and hyper-sleeping (sleeping too much) is a symptom. I like to sleep during the day because I have fewer nightmares then -- no idea why. But, in the past two months I have adjusted my sleeping schedule so that I go to bed between 8 and 10 p.m., and get up at 7 or 8. It's still a lot of sleep, but I am on 6 medications that all cause drowsiness!

I've been on Zoloft too. After several years, it quit working. Now I am on Effexor and in the hospital they added Welbutrin. I would suggest asking the doctor (or whomever prescribes your medication) for an adjustment in your medication. The SSRIs lose effectiveness over time. I really am a night owl, but I do feel better. I can get out of bed now.