I have been tested for thyroid disorders, hormonal imbalances, sleep apnea, and vitamin deficiencies. I have even gone to a sleep clinic where I was monitored during the night. Nothing unusual has ever been found. During the sleep study, I slept for twelve and a half hours before waking up on my own. I was asked to keep a sleep diary and have also had full blood workups to make sure I do not have cancer, parasites, or any other maladies. Physically, I am perfectly normal.
The judgement from others has been hard to take, at times. My parents were quick to say I was lazy, and my partners often didn't like that I have to sleep so much. My first marriage ended largely because I could not climb the corporate ladder due to my sleep needs. While others went out for drinks after work, I had to go home and sleep.
One doctor that I saw suggested that I sleep train myself. I was instructed to go to bed at exactly the same time every evening and wake up exactly nine hours later using an alarm clock. I was not to nap. I tried this for about four months and gave it up when I was overcome with exhaustion.
Over the years, I have simply come to accept the fact that my body requires more sleep than others even if it is too much sleep. I try to focus on the positive, that I am healthy and happy. I would indeed like to know why I am like this, but it seems my medical diagnosis is still a mystery.
Keywords: sleeping, too, much, for, a, long, time