I'm 20 years old, how do I stop oversleeping?

I sleep about 11 hours a night. I’m 20 years old and wondering how much sleep I should actually be getting. If I try to sleep only 8 hours, like most people, I feel this emotional pain and end up wanting to oversleep to numb it out. But I feel like oversleeping also numbs out my good emotions…

This might be depression. You should consider speaking with a doctor.

Reeve said:
This might be depression. You should consider speaking with a doctor.

What will a doctor do? Just put me on antidepressants? No way!

Vey said:

Reeve said:
This might be depression. You should consider speaking with a doctor.

What will a doctor do? Just put me on antidepressants? No way!

Antidepressants aren’t the only solution. There are other ways a doctor can help.

Vey said:

Reeve said:
This might be depression. You should consider speaking with a doctor.

What will a doctor do? Just put me on antidepressants? No way!

Hey, no pill-shaming. Antidepressants have helped a lot of people. If you don’t want them, that’s okay—there are other things that can help with depression.

Vey said:

Reeve said:
This might be depression. You should consider speaking with a doctor.

What will a doctor do? Just put me on antidepressants? No way!

Doctors don’t always prescribe meds right away. Therapy, lifestyle changes, and other supports are often first steps.

Vey said:

Reeve said:
This might be depression. You should consider speaking with a doctor.

What will a doctor do? Just put me on antidepressants? No way!

Therapy is definitely an option too.

@Day
I tried therapy once. I feel like they just want money and don’t actually care.

Vey said:
@Day
I tried therapy once. I feel like they just want money and don’t actually care.

Sounds like you got a bad therapist. Good therapists exist, though, and they can make a big difference.

@Day
I don’t even have time for a therapist. I sleep 12 hours, work 8–9, meditate, work out, and do other things with the rest of my time.

Vey said:
@Day
I don’t even have time for a therapist. I sleep 12 hours, work 8–9, meditate, work out, and do other things with the rest of my time.

If you’re ready to try therapy again, you could consider virtual sessions to fit them into your schedule. You can even start small, once a month, and see how it goes.

@Day
To be honest, I really don’t think therapy will help me.

Vey said:
@Day
To be honest, I really don’t think therapy will help me.

I get it. It might take time to find the right approach for you. But if you’re really looking to make a change, sometimes trying new things—even ones you’re skeptical about—can help.

Sleeping half the day away is a lot. It’s literally half your life.

Noor said:
Sleeping half the day away is a lot. It’s literally half your life.

I just don’t feel motivated to wake up. I sleep until my body literally can’t anymore.

Vey said:

Noor said:
Sleeping half the day away is a lot. It’s literally half your life.

I just don’t feel motivated to wake up. I sleep until my body literally can’t anymore.

In that case, the issue might not be your sleep habits but more of a psychological one. Seeing a doctor could help.

@Noor
I refuse to take any medications that change my mental state.

Vey said:
@Noor
I refuse to take any medications that change my mental state.

There are lots of ways to improve mental health that don’t involve medication. Physical activity, for instance, can really help.

Vey said:
@Noor
I refuse to take any medications that change my mental state.

Diet, exercise, music, spending time with animals, all of these can influence your mental state without medication. Looking into how the nervous system affects emotions could also be helpful.

Vey said:
@Noor
I refuse to take any medications that change my mental state.

The brain’s an organ, just like any other. Sometimes it needs specific treatment.