Something strange that happens to me.

[BlueIris]

I really have no idea where in the world of metaphysical information and spirituality to address this issue, so I thought I'd try this group.

All of my life, I've had this tendency to get tired as the sun is setting. Really, really tired. I perk back up again after the sun has gone, but that sensation of light getting dull and then draining away from the land is so exhausting. Even if I've gotten a lot of sleep the night before. In high school, especially, this used to drive me to nap in the late afternoons, which kept my sleep schedule really messed up.

So, what's going on? Is this a biorhythms thing? Something to do with the fact that I'm a night person? I just can't figure it out.

[davsand]

1. Melatonin production is stimulated by lowering light levels.

I think I remember reading that lowering light levels stimulate Melatonin production. If that is the case, your system may be a bit more sensitive than most and that maybe be why you want a nap when you do. The sunsets trigger melatonin release, it makes you sleepy and thus you nap...

I dunno, but you may want to read up on it and see if it fits your pattern. Good luck figuring it out.


Laura

[LiberalEsto]

2. Look into sunboxes

I not only get tired on gray days and fall and winter days when the sun sets early, I also get depressed.

A few years ago I found out about light therapy, read about it and decided to purchase a SunBox. By a happy coincidence, the SunBox company is located near where I live in Gaithersburg, MD. It's made a huge difference in my life. I no longer fall asleep at 7 p.m. every evening for half the year.

There's a lot of info at the SunBox web site if anyone is interested. I have no connection with the company, but their product has helped me.

http://www.sunbox.com/default.asp

[Angry Girl]

3. Almost sounds like a blood sugar thing

Particularly getting tired during mid- to late afternoon. Have you ever had that checked? Any correlation with food eaten for lunch (carbs, no carbs, protein only, no food)?

[BlueIris]

4. Wow, thanks for the suggestions, everyone!

I thought for sure the answer would be of a spiritual origin. Silly Iris.

[dbt]

5. Some Native Americans teach that twilight is the most dangerous time

of the day, in that it belongs neither to the day nor to the night. It is a time when spirits walk, IIRC. Not saying that this is what you are feeling, but see if it resonates.

Remember New Orleans

[BlueIris]

6. Oh, it resonates. For the record,

I hate twilight. Blah, blah, etheral beauty, blah--to me, it's always felt like a time of great imbalance and uncertainty. I think my distaste of twilight may be related to my dislike for sunsets.

[Desertrose]

7. This may sound kinda strange...well maybe not...

my first sense was that something really horrible and traumatic happened to you - felt like another lifetime. It was strong enough (I'm guessing death...like you were wonded or dying and hung on all day hoping help would come and at sunset you realized it wasn't going to come) and that impression has stuck with you this time for whatever reason...possibly triggered abgain in this childhood.

:shrug:


(Twilight is my favorite time cause it feels so magical to me.....go figure, huh?)

[BlueIris]

8. Ooooh, fascinating.

I'm actually trying to sort through some long unaddressed past-life trauma at the moment. It's slow going, because there aren't very many past-life readers in my area (N.W. Oregon) and the only evidence I have of that trauma is some weird emotional stuff I've endured that has no source I am aware of from this lifetime. According to one reader I've consulted with (eight years ago) there are actually quite a few traumatic deaths in my other lives (suicide, grief-induced fall, childbirth, murder). Your impression is quite intriguing to me for, however, because it's not among those I've been able to identify. I will keep it in mind.

[Cleita]

9. Also, it's the time the predators awaken and start hunting.

I bring my cats in before sundown lest they run into a pack of coyotes.

[Cleita]

10. Wrong place. Sorry.

[Cleita]

11. It could be just your natural bio-rythm.

I'm the opposite. I always dragged myself through the day and when the sun went down, I was suddenly wide awake and ready to tackle the world. This lead me to take jobs many times that were at night, like as an telephone operator or bartender. I just seemed to function better at night.