I''ve been so TIRED lately.

[omieluv]

Date: 3/21/2008 7:49:45 PM
Author: Gypsy

I'm ON antidepressants and seeing a doctor, one I don't trust and need to replace, for that right now. And he keeps adjusting my meds for that. I don't know if that's what's wacky or what.

Antidepressants can definitely contribute to what you are describing. Finding a doctor you can trust and feel comfortable with can be a big challenge, but worth it in the end if you are able to find the right balance for yourself. Like Monnie & yourself, I am often very tired. Sometimes I will sleep 12-14 hours and still not feel refreshed. In fact, I found it really does not matter if I get 6, 8, 9, 10+ hours of sleep, just feel different types of tired when I wake up (if that makes sense). My point is, it is not the amount of sleep you get, it is the quality of sleep you get. There has been research to support this claim and without bogging you down, here is an excerpt from Wikipedia(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinical_depression#Sleep_quality).

Poor sleep quality co-occurs with major depression. Major depression leads to alterations in the function of the hypothalamus and pituitary causing excessive release of cortisol which can lead to poor sleep quality. Individuals suffering from major depression have been found to have an abnormal sleep architecture, often entering REM sleep sooner than usual, along with highly emotionally-charged dreaming. Antidepressant drugs, which often function as REM sleep suppressants, may serve to dampen abnormal REM activity and thus allow for a more restorative sleep to occur.

For me, I have found that exercise really does help me sleep better, however, it can really be difficult for me to stick to a gym routine and when I slip up, I go right back to where I have started and then feel even more depressed than before...it's a vicious cycle.