We all have mornings when we don’t want to wake up and get out of bed. Whether it’s because we didn’t sleep well the night before, we have a long and arduous day ahead of us, or it’s just too warm and cozy under the covers, getting out of bed on those days is more of a chore than a usual.
For some people, though, difficulty waking up and facing the day is far more than just normal grogginess or a need to hit the snooze button a few times. It can come from a condition known as dysania. Here, we’ll compare dysania and difficulty waking up to help you better understand the differences between the two and whether you may need to reach out for help.
What Is Dysania?
Dysania goes much deeper than simply being tired and wanting to spend a few more minutes under the covers in the mornings. It’s feeling physically or emotionally unable to leave the bed, even after a full night’s sleep.
People who live with dysania often say that mornings are the hardest part of the day for them. They feel completely drained. Even if they’re mentally willing to get out of bed, their bodies don’t seem to want to cooperate. Some say that their bodies feel heavy and limp and their minds feel frozen. so, they physically just can’t get out of bed.
This may not seem like a serious issue to those who haven’t experienced it, but it can be incredibly debilitating. It causes people to be late for work or miss entire days. They may not be able to carry out their daily responsibilities, like getting their children to school and running errands. In many cases, that leads to intense feelings of guilt or a loss of control that causes dysania to grow worse over time.
What Causes Dysania?
Dysania can come from a variety of causes. It’s often linked to depression, anxiety, and chronic stress. Certain chronic medical conditions, like fibromyalgia, thyroid issues, and chronic fatigue syndrome, can cause dysania too. Narcolepsy, insomnia, sleep apnea, and other sleep disorders can lead to dysania as well.
Some negative habits may also increase the risks of developing dysania. Drinking caffeine late in the day, having heavy meals at night, and too much screen time before bed are believed to contribute to the condition. At the same time, sleeping too much, or taking naps late in the afternoon may make it harder to get out of bed in the mornings due to the sleep disruptions they cause.
Dealing With Dysania
If you’re dealing with dysania, there are certain simple measures you can take to try to combat it. Having a consistent sleep routine may make a difference. Avoiding naps, excessive caffeine, and heavy meals late in the day can help as well. Unplugging a couple of hours before bedtime and developing a calm pre-bedtime routine are also recommended. Waking up slowly with multiple relatively muted alarms rather than a single blaring one that rattles you out of bed may make getting up a bit easier too.
That being said, when dysania stems from underlying issues, like anxiety, depression, and sleep apnea, addressing the root cause is the key to overcoming the condition. If you’re not sure what’s causing your difficulty getting out of bed in the mornings, a doctor can help you determine the reasons and help you deal with them effectively.
All Things Considered
Everyone has days when waking up and getting out of bed is harder than usual. If this is an ongoing problem for you, though, you may be living with dysania. This condition is much more than feeling tired or having trouble waking up on occasion, and it can affect your everyday life. There’s no shame in reaching out for help to find out what the underlying cause might be and take back control of your mornings.
