I cannot wake up

Hi everyone,

this is basically my first post. I don't know if I have found the right forum section, but I will still try stating my problem here. I am a 26 year old woman.

My problem is that I cannot wake up in the mornings by myself. This is not because I dont want to, it is because I simply do not wake up. I have to set an alarm every day, ever since I was young. If I do not set an alarm I wont wake up until noon or even way past noon. I go to bed at regular times between 22:30 and 24:00, which is why the fact that I can practically sleep forever confuses me so much.

If I have work or anything else to do its not a problem getting up with an alarm set and i usually feel fine too. But once in a while it happens that my alarm fails (smartphone battery empty etc.) and then I wake up all dazed and confused at the latest hours. It is not that I feel good, because I had a good nap. I feel terrible. The whole day after waking up late is a blur and I cant focus or have energy for anything.

I know this is weird, complaining about sleeping too much. Many people love to sleep. I mean yes, I have the possibility to avoid this happening by setting an alarm, every day of my life, but it just bugs me.

I wonder why this happens and I wonder if there is anyone out there with the same problem maybe?
It would be great if you could share your experiences or thoughts on this one. Thank you

In all likelihood, it is simply a matter of your own personal biological makeup, nothing being wrong at all.

My fiancé has the same thing. Although she sets alarm after alarm every 5 minutes, and still she may not wake up for hours. Only when it's an absolute requirement is she able to wake up quickly.

There isn't anything wrong with her, necessarily, simply not a "morning person".

Conversely, I know of individuals who thrive on only 5 hours of sleep every night. Any more time and they feel overslept, any less and they feel as though they haven't gotten enough sleep.

Personally, I can go to sleep at any time for any amount of time, and also stay awake for any amount of time (the latter, so long as I haven't been previously exhausted by other means). I usually also sleep through just about anything that would be natural. I've slept through tropical rain storms by the ocean, storms in which the thunder moved my bed around the room. But I'll wake up to something that shouldn't normally occur, such as a glass cup breaking, despite numerous walls and floors away from me.

So everyone seems to be dramatically different when it comes to sleeping habits. Yours likely isn't anything too out of the ordinary either. However, you could always ask a doctor if you still feel uncomfortable.

Hello Ghost,

thank you very much for your reply. I am curious about your fiancé, does she also feel exhausted after having slept too much?

It just makes me wonder, why does my body want to sleep so much, when it is obviously not good for me. It would make total sense if I were exhausted before sleep, but AFTER I have slept makes me confused. But you're right, maybe it is just something physiological and a doctor can help with that.

She does indeed. My personal guess would still pertain to physiological properties. Just because it's not good for the general public, doesn't mean your body doesn't simply require it for its biological disposition.

Okay, thanks again for your reply, I will consider that

What kind of foods are you eating each day? The wrong diet can make a person tired more than they should be.

Hi Kevin,

thanks for your answer. I am eating regularly. That means I eat warm food once a day (e.g. a piece of meat or fish with vegetables and sometimes potatoes). In the evenings I mostly eat bread with smth on it. My weight is regular. I have also been wondering if it is the food, but I think I'm not eating unhealthy or anything. Sure I'll have a pizza every once in a while but I think that's normal as well. Maybe I have some kind of food intolerance.

Anyways, thanks for your question I'll make sure to ask a doctor about it or have him run some tests, that's a good idea.