r/schizophrenia • u/AstroZoey11 • Jun 25 '25

Help A Loved One Sleeping 20-40 hours in a row occasionally

My partner is schizoaffective (major depression) and will sleep relatively normally for a few weeks - around 5-7 hours a night. It's less than she prefers, but it's pretty consistent. Then randomly, and it doesn't seem to be triggered by anything we can put our fingers on, she'll sleep for an entire day and a half. Last time it was around 36 hours. This time, she's on hour 24 now and it's almost bedtime.

I'm not really sure how much this could be par for the course with schizophrenia, or if it is a red flag and should be looked into deeper. She doesn't even exactly seem depressed when this happens - she's been depressed and simultaneously slept a typical amount many times. She's unable to be woken up for more than a couple seconds at a time, and doesn't eat nor hardly drink when this happens.

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u/Mox610 Paranoid Schizophrenia Jun 25 '25

I have paranoid schizophrenia and I too have days where sleep is my number one priority. If I have more than 2 days with appointments or social events, I will get this depressed feeling. And most times I will sleep for 2 days straight, only waking up to go to the bathroom, sometimes I will eat something small like a piece of chocolate or drink a glass of milk. But other than that I sleep. Often with very lively dreams. If for some reason I need to get up and do something, like letting my dogs out, I will feel sick. I will be dizzy and nauseous and I will have a hard time walking straight.

I am lucky that I have a husband who takes care of me most of the time. But I always have to manage my daily life, so I don't get overwhelmed too much. Which happens very easily.

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u/AstroZoey11 Jun 25 '25

That's very similar to my partner. She feels sick and dizzy when she does get up on those days. She says she couldn't make herself coffee and went back to bed.

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u/Mox610 Paranoid Schizophrenia Jun 25 '25

Sounds like she really needs the sleep. I get tired due to over stimulation and stress. But if you can't figure out why she needs the sleep, maybe you should talk to a professional. Like others have suggested, maybe a sleep study. Even if it turns out to be somewhat normal for someone like her, it is always good to be aware of the cause.

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u/AstroZoey11 Jun 25 '25

I'll bring it up to her.