Can I just ask about tiredness?

[Eyessoblue]

Hi everyone, is a symptom of cptsd severe tiredness?  For the last couple of weeks I am beyond tired, I am sleeping well up to about 10 hours a night but now have to have a 2-3 hour sleep after lunch then another couple of hours in the evening before bed. I feel completely exhausted and like I'm struggling to do simple tasks and all I can think of is going back to bed. I've lost  motivation to do anything. I do stuffer with depression so not sure if I've hit an all time low with that or it's a symptom of cptsd, I've been having lots of cbt and learning to sit with feelings etc so maybe that has worn me out, not sure but never been like this before.

[sanmagic7]

you've been extremely busy lately working with your cbt, and that exhaustion can certainly be a result of it.  maybe you need to let up a little on the emotional work you're doing, just let your body and brain have a bit of a rest.  are you doing/taking anything for the depression?  that can certainly cause one to want to do nothing but sleep.  just take a deep breath, and allow yourself to be.  maybe some mindful breathing to help ground you.  you'll get through this.  'this, too, shall pass' has gotten me through a lot of uncomfortable days, thoughts, and behaviors.  hang tough, eyessoblue.  hangin' right beside you.

[Eyessoblue]

Thank you Sanmagic, yes I'm on antidepressants have been for years, normally coped ok, i guess all the cbt work has got my brain thinking and working harder then normal, hate that continual sleepy feeling  a bit like a zombie at the moment not quite sure what's going on around me! I always appreciate your comments, they always make sense, thank you.

[writetolife]

Hi Eyessoblue,

I'm sorry you've been experiencing that.  That sounds so hard. 

It sure has been for me.  I also deal with depression, so it could come with that.  But also, I think it has a lot to do with being hyper vigilant and anxious - at least for me.  It takes a lot of energy to be on constant high alert and that wears a person out.   

I also find that when I sleep, it doesn't help very much, so I'm still exhausted.  Like, to the point where I can sleep for 8 hours and still have trouble staying awake on my commute to work.  Sometimes I'll get to the weekend and sleep for 12 hours, just to find myself falling asleep during the day. 

Sigh...I think it can be a CPTSD thing.

[Eyessoblue]

Hi writetolife, yes that sounds just like me! The more sleep I have the more I want to sleep! Weekends seems to be my 'crash' time and I literally zombie out for 2 days sleeping more then you can imagine and feeling more tired and irritable with it. I wish my husband understood, he just shakes his head at me in disbelief then moans under his breath and goes out for the day, then I get the silent treatment which does wear me out emotionally sometimes I feel like I live with a child and not a grown up man. So I battle on!!