Are you the person who can fall asleep standing up, mid-conversation, or during the most action-packed scene of an Avengers film? If Avengers isn't your jam, then maybe in Rocky II, when Apollo and Rocky are both being counted down, and it's neck and neck as to who makes it to their feet first... GRIPPING! Anyway! Do people marvel at your ability to sleep through fire alarms, thunderstorms, or a toddler's tantrum? If so, congratulations!? You might just have hypersomnia, the sleep disorder that makes you an elite-level napper.
While insomnia gets all the attention for being dramatic and sleepless, hypersomnia is its quieter, sleepier sibling who prefers to snuggle up under a duvet and stay there forever. It's like living life in a permanent state of "just five more minutes," except those minutes stretch into hours, and you're still yawning.
So, grab your favourite blanket (be honest, you have one), curl up, and let’s dive into the hilarity of living with hypersomnia. Just try not to fall asleep halfway through reading this.
what is hypersomnia? (and why are you still yawning?)
Hypersomnia, also known as excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), is the condition where no amount of sleep seems to be enough (1). Never, never… never enough. Imagine waking up after a full eight hours of rest, only to feel like you’ve been hit by a bus full of over-caffeinated toddlers.
People with hypersomnia can sleep for 10, 12, or even 14 hours and still wake up feeling like they need to hibernate for another six months. And it’s not just about the long nights.
Daytime sleepiness is the real kicker. Hypersomniacs are the people who doze off during work meetings, family dinners, and occasionally while waiting for the kettle to boil. It’s basically the reverse of insomnia — while insomniacs are staring at the ceiling counting sheep, hypersomniacs are dreaming about counting sheep. And the sheep are dozing too, counting whatever they count while asleep. This is sheep-ception.
the signs of hypersomnia: are you a serial snoozer?
If you’re wondering whether you’ve been blessed (or cursed) with hypersomnia, here are some signs:
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You could sleep through a nuclear explosion: Earthquake? Fire drill? The world ending? No problem. You’ll wake up when you’re ready (or when someone physically shakes you).
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Daytime naps are your love language: A quick nap for most people is 20 minutes. For you, it’s a solid two hours, complete with drooling, weird dreams, and a groggy wake-up.
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Your alarm clock is terrified of you: No matter how many alarms you set, you’ll hit snooze until the poor clock gives up and starts questioning its purpose in life. Poor thing…
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You’re always late (because you fell asleep): Late to work, late to brunch, late to your own surprise party — all because you accidentally fell asleep while putting on your socks.
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Yawning is your default expression: Forget smiling or frowning; your face is permanently stuck in a yawn. You’ve even mastered the stealth yawn in public.
what causes hypersomnia?
Hypersomnia doesn’t just happen because you had a wild Netflix binge or stayed up too late texting your crush. There’s usually a deeper reason behind the perpetual need for sleep.
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Idiopathic hypersomnia: This is the medical term for “we don’t know why you’re always tired, but wow, you’re really good at it.”
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Narcolepsy: The more dramatic cousin of hypersomnia, narcolepsy includes sudden sleep attacks. Hypersomnia, by comparison, is more like a slow, steady descent into a coma of comfort.
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Sleep apnoea: Sleep apnoea can cause hypersomnia because your body spends all night gasping for air instead of actually resting. Curse you!
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Depression: Feeling tired all the time can be a symptom of depression, and hypersomnia loves to piggyback on it. It’s like emotional jet lag. Because depression isn’t difficult enough to deal with.
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Lifestyle choices: Too much alcohol, too little exercise, or eating 47 biscuits before bed might make you tired, but that’s not hypersomnia. That’s just life.
a day in the life of a hypersomniac
Morning: You wake up groggier than a sloth in a snowstorm. After hitting snooze seven times, you finally drag yourself out of bed, only to discover it’s lunchtime.
Afternoon: You decide to be productive but end up “resting your eyes” at your desk. Your co-workers are torn between being concerned and jealous of your commitment to sleeping. It’s all fun and games until someone loses their job. Not ideal.
Evening: You power through dinner, but halfway through your favourite TV show, you’re out cold. People marvel at how you can fall asleep in positions that would snap a yoga instructor in half. It’s not your first rodeo, cowboy…
Night: You crawl into bed and sleep like a log… only to wake up eight hours later, still feeling like a zombie. Rinse and repeat.
hypersomnia vs. laziness: the great debate
Let’s address the elephant in the room: hypersomnia is a medical condition, not an excuse to skip the washing up. People with hypersomnia often get unfairly labelled as “lazy,” but the truth is, they’d love to have the energy to conquer the day. Unfortunately, their brain has other plans, and those plans involve a lot of time spent with their eyes closed.
Think of it this way: laziness is a choice; hypersomnia is your body throwing in the towel without your permission.
treatment options
Living with hypersomnia isn’t easy, but there are ways to manage it. Here’s what might help:
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Sleep hygiene: No, it doesn’t mean spraying your pillows with Febreze (though that’s a nice touch). It means sticking to a regular sleep schedule, avoiding caffeine late in the day, and resisting the urge to scroll through TikTok at 2 a.m. Tough, yes. Impossible, probably.
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Medication: There are wakefulness-promoting medications like modafinil that can give you the energy boost you need. Basically, it’s like legalised coffee in pill form. Probably speak to your GP about this though, yeah?
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Lifestyle changes: Exercise, a balanced diet, and cutting down on sugar might help. Yes, it sounds boring, but hey, desperate times call for healthy measures.
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Therapy: If your hypersomnia is linked to depression or anxiety, therapy can be a game-changer. Plus, it’s a great excuse to talk about how tired you are.
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Naps: Controlled, scheduled naps can actually help manage your daytime sleepiness. Just make sure your “power nap” doesn’t turn into a four-hour slumber party.
relationships and hypersomnia: love in the time of snoozing
Dating someone with hypersomnia is an adventure. Your partner will need to accept that you’re basically a human cat who can sleep anywhere, anytime. Romantic dinners might end with you dozing off over dessert, and movie nights will always involve you snoring before the plot twist. But on the plus side, your love of napping makes you the perfect companion for lazy Sundays.
Who needs a high-energy partner when you can bond over a mutual love of blankets and dozing?
finding the humour in hypersomnia
Hypersomnia might sound like a drag, but there’s plenty to laugh about. From accidentally falling asleep during awkward moments (like your boss’s big presentation) to your friends nicknaming you “Snoozy McSnoozeface,” it’s a condition that lends itself to comedy.
And if you’re living with hypersomnia, remember this: it’s okay to rest, recharge, and embrace your inner nap enthusiast. Life may be a marathon, but you’re perfectly content to take each day one snooze at a time.
Because let’s face it: the world could use a little more sleep anyway. Until next time, eve sleep.
