Too Tired to Sleep
Have you ever been so exhausted you couldn’t wait to get into bed, but when you finally got there, you were too tired to sleep?
It’s unnerving.
How could you have been so achingly desperate to get in your bed not 10 minutes ago, could hardly keep your eyes open just getting yourself ready for bed, and now this? Really??
Sleepy and Tired Aren’t the Same Thing
Sometimes sleepiness and exhaustion are best friends. They travel together and you’ll often feel both – strongly – at the same time. But not always.
We’ve all been sleepy simply because we’re bored, relaxed and lounging, or possibly just by being in a dark room. We can fall asleep while reading (remember studying for finals?) or watching TV. You may not be at all short on sleep, but sometimes the cues of being still and unstimulated can make you feel like you want to doze off. Maybe you even do.
Other times, you flat out feel exhausted. It can be because you have a physical job, or have been moving, or working in your yard all day. Maybe you’re a full-time caregiver and are on your feet and running almost around the clock. Even a particularly demanding or stressful sedentary job can cause a weariness that feels physical. Whatever the reason, you know why you feel like your tank is empty. It’s a feeling that can hit you any time of the day, not just at bedtime.
When you feel both drowsy and bone-tired at the same time, it’s easy to understand. You’re feeling a generic kind of tired. You don’t question it or have to think about it. You just know you need rest and sleep.
How Can I Be Too Tired to Sleep?
What doesn’t intuitively make sense is when you go to bed feeling so depleted, so worn-out you don’t have a doubt in the world you’ll fall asleep as soon as you’re horizontal. You can’t wait to get into your bed or even crash out on your sofa or recliner.
Then you finally lie down, all ready to conk out.
“Huh…interesting…I’m still awake.”
It is possible to feel extremely tired but still not be able to go to sleep quickly. It’s not that you’re actually too tired to fall asleep, and it doesn’t mean you won’t. It may just take your body a little time to fully let go, and your mind may need to take a beat to decompress from the day’s demands.
Life is busy, and you have much to get done. When you are pushing yourself to keep going and get it all accomplished, the stress and alertness hormones cortisol and norepinephrine help keep you on your feet and moving.
When you’re ready to stop and shut down, those hormones don’t just miraculously dissipate and stop coursing through your body. They may still be at work, doing the job you needed them to do just a short while ago when you were still finishing up your tasks.
Your circadian rhythm may also be hampering your ability to fall right to sleep. If you’re not getting as much sleep as your body needs, staying up late or getting up extra early to buy yourself more productive time, your ON/OFF switch may be confused. In other words, your body may be sending sleepiness and alertness signals at the wrong times.
It’s hard to remember when you’re craving the release of sleep, but simply lying still and relaxed, allowing your body to rest is helpful. Likewise, calming your mind and letting go of the stresses of the day is much more beneficial than letting your mind spin. No, it doesn’t provide the restoration that sleep provides. But if you think about it as not a total loss to lie and rest, you may find that the next thing you’re aware of is waking up after a good sleep.