h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

As I am currently living on 4 hours of sleep a night, (with the exception of one night I don't sleep and one night I sleep twelve to fourteen hours, not to mention I actually sleep between 10AM and 2PM) I would like to know more about the cenearlean (sp?) rhythms that are created by one's sleep patterns. Am I distressing mine?

Do you know if sleeping less hours a night causes stronger and/or more frequent hypnogogic hallucinations?

I am opening the file that is marked "sleep" in my cabinet. It has been a while since I was actively monitoring other people's sleep patterns. . . Ah! This should be helpful reference... First- Hypnogogic Hallucinations are vivid sensory images occuring at sleep onset but particularly vivid when the Rapid Eye Movement (dream sleep) starts at the beginning of the sleep cycle. Next- Circadian rhythm varies between 23 to 25 hour cycles depending on light/dark stimulus. Amount of sleep needed by the average human adult is less than 8 hours but more than 6. (completely depends on the individual in question.) Normal adolescents can sometimes require 12 hours a night. Older people can get by on 4 hours or less on a regular basis. You are an adult and as such can actually foster narcolepsy by keeping irregular hours. Napping, skipping days of sleep, sleeping a day to catch up, this is what the sleep docs call poor sleep hygene. If you desire narcolepsy, it can be inspired through these means. If you don't desire it, .. a regular sleep cycle must be maintained and not compromised. You will know if you are on your way to narcolepsy, if you also develop cataplexy. Cataplexy is a loss of muscle tone precipitated by emotional expression... laughter, anger, adrenaline rushes, etc... causing you to collapse or go weak in the knees. In a catplectic state it is still possible to make noise, move your eyes, breath and maintain bladder/bowel controll. Regardless,.. It also helps your sleep paterns if you don't drink coffee, booze, or strong tea right before bed. Caffeine will prevent deep sleep. Alcohol will prevent dream cycles. And yesss...If you don't sleep regularly..and messs... up your circadian rhythmsss.... your will have more intenssse... Hypnogogic hallucinationssss...

AAAAAHHH!
Raptor mice are trying to eat my eyes!

Thank you for your valuable information. I have stopped drinking coffee, alcohol, or anything. I have a strange aridness to my mouth followed by hearing the toilet call my name. Could this be fostered by irregular cicadian rivens? I think I hear my mother calling.

Lethargy,
St Cthulhu (catatonia master)

What if you have tried and tried to maintain regular sleeping hours of 8 per night, no naps, caffiene, alcohol, etc. and still feel awful? Still cannot pull yourself out of bed every morning? Getting up is the hardest thing I do on any given day -- sometimes it is IMPOSSIBLE -- and it is making me very sad and grumpy. Perhaps it is depression? Much thanks for any advice.

I suffer from this inability to wake in the mornings at various times. I believe that depression might be a part of it. If it is not a cause, it is definitely a side effect.

I have noticed that it follows a specific cycle in my case. Regardless of how I change my habits while awake, it seems my body has a series of sleep habits all its own.

I have also noticed that I can override this cycle if something particularly new or inspiring is going to happen when I awake. This would lead me to think that it would be connected to depression in some degree (if depression is the cause of such listlessness).

If this doesn't help, then I hope it confuses. At least confusion means you're still trying to figure it out.

Yes being depressed does cause sleepiness and the need for sleep, but so does using your brain and body actively. Normal teenagers can sometimes need 12 hours of sleep a night because they learn, grow, feel, think and do so much in one day.