# I Can't Sleep More Than 5 Hours **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 15, 2010, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-sleep-more-than-5-hours/539490 "2010-05-15T00:07:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-sleep-more-than-5-hours/539490/21 "2010-05-16T03:46:27Z")
I think the only times I have slept through the night were post-surgery when I was on Versed. Which in the US isn’t prescribed outside of a hospital setting. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-sleep-more-than-5-hours/539490/22 "2010-05-16T06:09:14Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > Five hours? In a row?! how lucky are you!. If I sleep 3 hours without waking, I’ve had a good night. I usually go 1.5 hours, wake up reposition, lie there for 20 minutes to an hour. I do go back to sleep and sleep a total of 7-8 hours, but never in my life have I slept straight through the night. I have, but only when I was a kid. It’s annoying. Oh, and Opal, I’ve felt the same thing. But mine seems to be a part of benzo withdrawal. Not only does it hurt, but I feel like I need to move around. And if I actually get up, I usually feel better in a few minutes. I’d recommend what I use in those times (either Seroquel or a sedating antihistamine) but I’m guessing you’ve already tried that stuff. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-sleep-more-than-5-hours/539490/23 "2010-05-16T06:14:25Z")
I’ve already tried most stuff. I’m currently on melatonin and temazepam. I can take fistfuls of benadryl and not fall asleep. Seroquel did nothing. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-sleep-more-than-5-hours/539490/24 "2010-05-16T06:26:04Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > If I go to bed at 9 PM, I wake up at 2AM. If I retire at 10 PM, I wake at 3AM. If I retire at 12, I wake at 5. > Am I harming myself? You are supposed to get 8 hours of sleep/night. > This has been going on for years..is there anything I can do?😕 You lucky bastard! If I get 2-3 hours of sleep in a row I feel lucky! 🙂 Seriously, when I was about 25 I would sleep almost exactly 5 hours of sleep each night. I read some report that said my life was on the short list so I consulted my Dr. He said that is all some folks need. I’m 55 now and as far as I know I’m in good health. I’m not happy about not getting my 5 uninterrupted hours anymore but hey, it is what it is. BTW, if it’s relevant I get plenty of exercise. ---
**Author:** ![zenith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zenith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zenith)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-sleep-more-than-5-hours/539490/25 "2010-05-16T20:48:23Z")
Can’t sleep more than 4 or 5 hours at a stretch but get 7-9 hours total most days. Once my bladder awakens me from my “morning nap”,I’m up for 3-5 hours before taking my “evening nap” before work. On days off I go to bed @ 2am and am up with the sun, feed the cats, watch TV ,go online, or read a book for 2 hours or so then go back to bed til11am-1pm. When out camping, I walk the campground a couple of laps @ dawn before crawling back into the tent for my “finishing nap”. ---
**Author:** ![Meyer6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@Meyer6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meyer6)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-sleep-more-than-5-hours/539490/26 "2010-05-16T21:04:26Z")
I have the opposite problem - I am the worlds heaviest sleeper. Unless I set multiple alarms I will be out for a minimum of 10 hours, sometimes up to 14 hours at a stretch. I have talked to several doctors and all of them agree that I am just at the extremely high end of normal, there is nothing wrong with me. I know this probably sounds great to all the insomniacs out there, but actually it kind of sucks. It just doesn’t fit in well with normal life - social stuff and work stuff make it difficult to get enough hours of sleep in a night, and I feel like a complete zombie without it. I guess the grass is always greener and all, but I wish I could function on 5 hours of sleep. I feel like I could get so much done! ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-sleep-more-than-5-hours/539490/27 "2010-05-16T22:02:41Z")
> [@IaMoDiNaRy](#): > > Are you staying asleep the whole 5 hours? If you are, then you’re probably getting what you need. Are you waking up because you just aren’t sleepy anymore or because of pain? My body actually starts aching if I lie there too long. If you’re feeling ok, then I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Talk to your doctor if you aren’t feeling well or feeling tired all the time. Not enough sleep can certainly cause health problems. Good Luck… I came into this thread to say this. Don’t worry about your rest unless it is not actually restful. If you’re THAT worried, talk to your doctor, but you’re probably just at the low end of normal. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2010, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-sleep-more-than-5-hours/539490/28 "2010-05-17T00:58:38Z")
I have come to accept the idea that my circadian rhythm is just. . ._odd_. If I go to bed at, say, 11PM, I’ll be awake sometime between 3 and 4AM. My bladder will wake me up. It’s a coin-toss as to whether I’ll be able to get back to sleep. _But_ like **Panache45** , my work hours are pretty flexible. So usually, unless I have an appointment that prevents it, I’ll get up around 4AM, but then go back to bed for 1-2hours after I put my 10YO daughter on the bus for school. I really _do_ need 7-9 hours to feel optimal (while my hubby is fine with 5-6), but my body seems to want it in two sessions, not one. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2010, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-sleep-more-than-5-hours/539490/29 "2010-05-17T03:07:18Z")
If you aren’t feeling sleepy during the day, falling asleep on the job at your desk, needing a nap on the bus home, etc., you are probably getting enough sleep. Why worry? It’s an extra three hours you have that you can use to do something worthy. ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2010, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-sleep-more-than-5-hours/539490/30 "2010-05-17T07:41:51Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > I have come to accept the idea that my circadian rhythm is just. . ._odd_. If I go to bed at, say, 11PM, I’ll be awake sometime between 3 and 4AM. My bladder will wake me up. It’s a coin-toss as to whether I’ll be able to get back to sleep. _But_ like **Panache45** , my work hours are pretty flexible. So usually, unless I have an appointment that prevents it, I’ll get up around 4AM, but then go back to bed for 1-2hours after I put my 10YO daughter on the bus for school. > > I really _do_ need 7-9 hours to feel optimal (while my hubby is fine with 5-6), but my body seems to want it in two sessions, not one. I think this is how mine works as well. I’ll go to bed fairly late-ish, sleep for about four or so hours, then get up and go to work. I’m pretty awake at work until the end of my shift, then I get home and take about a 2-hour nap. Not entirely sure if I can convince my body to behave otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2010, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-sleep-more-than-5-hours/539490/31 "2010-05-17T11:19:56Z")
> [@Maiira](#): > > I think this is how mine works as well. I’ll go to bed fairly late-ish, sleep for about four or so hours, then get up and go to work. I’m pretty awake at work until the end of my shift, then I get home and take about a 2-hour nap. Not entirely sure if I can convince my body to behave otherwise. Ditto. I’ve tried skipping my nap (for several consecutive days, just to give my body clock a chance to ‘reset’), hoping that if I was _tired enough_ when I went to bed, I’d sleep for 8 hours. Doesn’t work. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-sleep-more-than-5-hours/539490.md?page=1)