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Sleep is a crucial part of our well-being. Too little and our brain starts to function sub-optimally. Severe sleep deprivation can even lead to death. But while some people struggle with insomnia, others have the opposite problem: they’re constantly sleeping, prone to nodding off without meaning to, and are chronically sleepy.
Hypersomnia is a symptom of many sleep disorders in which the problem is too much sleep. Sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia, or Kleine-Levin Syndrome are examples of disorders that cause hypersomnia.
Hypersomnia is more than just taking an afternoon nap when you should be working. It’s a deeply destructive and possibly harmful condition that can make it difficult to go about your daily tasks. This article covers the symptoms, causes, and treatments of hypersomnia, so that you can find the help you need to start living brighter (and wide awake).
What Is Hypersomnia?
Hypersomnia is a condition characterized by excessive sleepiness, difficulty waking up, and a tendency to fall asleep even when you don’t want to (like during class, while you’re working, or even at the wheel of your car when driving).
Hypersomnia can be mild; for example, people with depression often have hypersomnia as a symptom. In these cases, they might sleep for longer than normal and feel as if they can’t get through the day without taking a nap, but are usually able to stay awake when driving or talking to someone.
In more severe cases, hypersomnia can cause someone to fall asleep while engaging in dangerous activities, like driving, or when actively engaged with someone, like having a conversation or during a work meeting.
Hypersomnia Symptoms
Symptoms of hypersomnia will depend on the underlying cause and its severity. However, common signs of it include:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness despite adequate nighttime sleep
- Sleeping for very long periods (often 10+ hours) without feeling refreshed
- Difficulty waking up or feeling “sleep drunk” (confusion, grogginess, brain fog)
- Strong urge to nap during the day, with naps that don’t feel restorative
- Trouble concentrating, memory problems, or slowed thinking
- Low energy, fatigue, or lack of motivation
- Irritability, mood changes, or increased anxiety or depression
- Reduced alertness that interferes with work, school, or relationships
This is more than just feeling tired. It’s like moving through syrup all the time. Your thoughts feel slow, your body feels slow, and you feel as if you’ll drift off at any moment.
What Causes Hypersomnia
Hypersomnia itself is not a diagnosable disorder. Instead, it’s a common symptom found in sleep disorders and some mental health disorders. Understanding the cause behind your hypersomnia is crucial to finding the right treatment.
Common underlying causes of hypersomnia include:
- Idiopathic Hypersomnia: Hypersomnia without a known cause. People may sleep long hours at night and still feel unrefreshed. When they do wake up, they have severe sleep inertia and may feel like they’re waking up into a mental fog.
- Narcolepsy: Narcolepsy is a neurological sleep disorder that disrupts the brain’s ability to regulate sleep–wake cycles. Hypersomnia is one of the symptoms and can result in sudden, overwhelming daytime sleepiness, causing people to fall asleep no matter where they are.
- Kleine-Levin Syndrome: A very rare disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of extreme hypersomnia, where individuals may sleep 15–20 hours per day for days or weeks at a time. During episodes, hypersomnia is profound and often paired with cognitive changes, irritability, and altered behavior.
- Depression: People with depression may sleep excessively and have trouble getting out of bed, common signs of hypersomnia.
- Drug use: Extreme consumption of alcohol and some drugs (like cannabis) can result in hypersomnia, where people feel like they never get enough sleep no matter how rested they are. A chronic brain fog is also common.
- Head Injuries: Traumatic brain injuries and concussions can cause hypersomnia and should be treated by a specialist.
- Side effects of certain medications: Certain medications used to treat mental health disorders can cause hypersomnia as a side effect. For example, some people experience hypersomnia when ADHD medications wear off. If you experience hypersomnia on a mental health medication, talk to your psychiatrist. They can find a different type or dosage for you so you can feel well-rested and healthy.
Struggling with hypersomnia but unsure of the cause? A psychiatrist can diagnose and treat hypersomnia. They will likely refer you to a sleep study to understand the underlying cause and then develop a treatment plan that suits your needs. Contact Lifebulb to be scheduled with one today.
Hypersomnia Treatments
Hypersomnia treatments largely depend on the underlying cause. Narcolepsy, which is most often a genetic or autoimmune disorder, requires a different approach than hypersomnia caused by depression.
Here are some common ways professionals treat hypersomnia, but you should talk to your therapist or primary care provider about what treatment would look like to you.
- Medication for wakefulness: If there is a strong biological or genetic component behind your hypersomnia, medications can help regulate your brain chemicals and provide feelings of wakefulness throughout the day.
- Improved sleep hygiene: Sometimes, hypersomnia is caused or exacerbated by lifestyle habits. Things like going to bed extremely late, having caffeine too close to bedtime, or using screens in bed are all bad sleep habits that could be making hypersomnia worse.
- Treat depression or other mental health conditions: If hypersomnia is the symptom, not the disorder, then you have to treat the underlying cause. Addressing trauma, depression, or ADHD is vital to reducing hypersomnia in these cases.
If you struggle with general, mild hypersomnia and not a sleep disorder, brain injury, or major mental health disorder, then making small changes to your everyday routine can help. Here are some ways to deal with hypersomnia in your case:
- Have a strict sleep routine: Be strict about when you go to bed and when you wake up. Keep the times constant even through the weekend and your days off.
- No electronics before bed: The blue light emitted by our electronics can stimulate sunlight and mess up your circadian rhythm, which is in charge of feelings of sleepiness and wakefulness.
- Limit caffeine and alcohol in the afternoon: Try not to drink either after 3 pm, and limit them after noon.
- Exercise once a day: Exercise helps us sleep better and feel more awake during the day. Try to exercise outside if possible to get the added benefit of sunlight.
- Get plenty of sunlight: Position your bed by a window that gets lots of natural sunlight in the morning. Sit by windows or outside as much as possible during the day. Sunlight is the body’s biggest cue for when to be awake and when to sleep. If you live in an especially cloudy or dark location, use a sunlight lamp.
These are just some coping mechanisms to deal with hypersomnia. Remember that hypersomnia is rarely the only symptom. Understanding why you have hypersomnia and how it affects the rest of your life is important in recovery.
Ready to wake up? Contact Lifebulb to get started today.
