TOO SLEEPY
In yesterday’s post I talked about sleeping when playing hooky. That’s all fine and good if you want to take a time out. But, there’s one aspect of this which can lead to serious consequences, particularly if our stress level is on super-high alert.
In that state, one time out nap can easily lead to a second, then a third, and continue until apathy leads to depression. When that happens, sleeping ceases to be a friend and instead becomes the enemy. This is one form of sleep to avoid.
It starts out innocently enough, but then can sneak up, infiltrating with stealth. For me, it generally starts with a simple feeling of exhaustion, which I may fight at first, but then succumb to it. So, I lay down for a nap or go to bed early, maybe not even thinking much about it. Then, after what should be a refreshing slumber, I wake up still groggy. And the tell-tale clue is that I don’t want to get up.
I should be aware enough to catch this clue and start examining why I’m inclined to drift back to sleep immediately upon waking. Sometimes it’s as simple as wanting to avoid facing a situation that’s unpleasant. Other times it’s several events and/or issues I’ve neglected that gang up to steal my enthusiasm. Instead of waking up grateful, apathy covers me like the blanket wrapped around my body, lulling me back to sleep. Therefore I avoid the reality of consciousness. This lack of gratefulness and overriding apathy should be my second clue.
If I have a handle on the situation, I’ll jump up, shake off my lack of enthusiasm and go do some yoga. The slow, reflective poses in yoga often provide a safe harbor where the source of my unhappiness can reveal itself safely. Hunched over in child’s pose, I might just break down, releasing anxiety with a refreshing cry. (And this type of crying is good. For an explanation of why, please read my post Cry Cry Baby.)
Another useful tool is to go for a brisk walk, jog through the park, or any aerobic exercise that elevates the heart rate for at least 20 minutes. This floods my system with endorphins, which are the body’s natural reserve of anti-depressives. Endorphins kick-start a feeling of euphoria. It temporarily holds anxiety at bay, giving me a respite where I can put into perspective whatever demons are trying to take possession of my emotions. It gives me a chance to regroup.
But if I let the opportunity pass to nip this in the buds, it gives depression free rein to infiltrate. It then claims a stake on my psyche. After that, I might just pull the covers over my head and slip back into sleep. Any excessive sleep patterns occurring when I’m not physically sick or exhausted from physical exertion are definite signs of depression. And the longer I let that sleep control me, the harder it is to break free of its insidious hold.
So, sleep is a good thing. It’s needed by our bodies to keep us healthy and as an aid in recovery when we’re sick. It can even be a special treat when we simply need to push away the world for a time out. However, it can become our enemy when it drains us of our enthusiasm.
Like any other aspect of life, balance is the key. Paying attention to the patterns of our sleep is important to maintain both physical and mental health.
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