Why do some people need so much more sleep than others?

[Writer]

It's Saturday morning. I'm holed-up here in bed with my bad knee. Mr. Writer is to my left and never wakes up after rolling around and falling back asleep a few times for an addition 4 to 6 hours of sleep. I slept about 8-9 hours and feel fine.

I know he's not the only one who does this. Why does anyone need 12 hours of sleep?

[Nikia]

1. I start getting mentally unstable with little sleep

My mother is the same way. If someone needs to sleep, let them sleep. Never pick a fight with a sleep deprived person who is this way either. The brain uses sleep to fix itself.

[Politically_Wrong]

2. For me...

It seems like the less sleep I get, the more energetic I am...And the more sleep I get, the more tired I am...hmm...I wonder why?

[caty]

9. I'm the same way.

I get about five hours every night and feel great. If I sleep more than that, it slows me down.

Welcome to DU!!!!!!!!!:hi:

[supernova]

3. Sleeping a lot

can be a sign of depression.

Not saying your hubby is depressed but it is a symptom.

And to the person directly above me, yes you can get in the habit of feeling groggy if you sleep longer than your body needs.

Some people need more sleep than others generally. I seem to need about 7-8 hours of sleep. But if I sleep longer than that, I wake up feeling tired.

[Coventina]

4. 8 hours is just the average. Everyone is different

I can survive on 8, but my mind and body are a lot happier with 10.

I'm jealous of those that thrive on 5 or 6. I would get a lot more done in my life if I could do that.

After a few days of less than 8, I become a danger to myself and others.
:-(

[graywarrior]

5. The longer you sleep past sunrise, the more sluggish your liver

gets. For some reason, according to oriental medicine, if you get up at sunrise, your liver is happier and you will have a more energetic day.

I've known about this for years. I still get up at 8:30 or 9:00 am.

[Chicago Democrat]

6. Some people can and do...

leaves very little time to do anything.

[ScreamingMeemie]

7. After 9 years of marriage, it appears that MrG needs very little time

awake. He would sleep forever if his wife wasn't such a b*tch. :hi:

[Darth_Kitten]

8. I nap all the time....

I think it's due to long term stress and mild depression. :(

but that's just me. :(

[XemaSab]

10. I've been sleeping a lot lately

and today I realized it's because I swapped the bottles for the asthma meds and the insomnia meds (!). And I've been too groggy to notice I was taking the wrong pills (!!!!).

[Coventina]

11. Would your feelings be hurt if I told you that made me LOL?

:hide:

[XemaSab]

13. Not at all...

I felt pretty dumb this morning when I realized... :D

Then I took the right meds and went and got some coffee and now I am able to be a productive citizen... (insofar as goofing off on DU can be considered being a productive citizen)

[swag]

12. Because all that fuckin' really wears 'em out.