I've never been able to hear alarms, no matter how loud to wake me up. But can hear just fine when awake.?

Question

This is a problem that is serious to me, and I would very much appreciate it if anyone else out there has any knowledge of this type of occurrance, and if so, please answer - also, serious answers only? Thanks.

I've asked several M.D.'s and even a psychiatrist about this and they have all sort of minimized the problem. But, it really is a problem because if I have an appointment or anywhere I must be on time, I am afraid to go to sleep the night before unless I have someone with me I can count on to wake me up.

If anyone has had this problem, or knows someone who has, please let me know what info you have. (Also, nothing to do with alcohol, drugs, not sleeping, etc... this has been ongoing since I had to be to kindergarden.
Thanks.

Answer 1

I can't answer any better than the MD's, etc., but I suspect your alertness threshold is different from other people's. As I remember from brain science (part of the psych curriculum at most colleges), alertness is related to the balance of serotonin and melatonin. When you awake, the relative quantities of each circulating in your bloodstream are pretty far apart. Throughout the day, serotonin builds up until it reduces your alertness an produces a feeling of drowsiness. In fact, some people take tryptophan, a serotonin "precursor" (meaning the body assembles tryptophan into serotonin) in order to help them get to sleep.

Normally, melatonin builds up during sleeping hours and serotonin is eliminated / broken down during restful sleep, and eventually the balance of melatonin to serotonion is high enough that your alertness increases, and eventually some simple environmental stimulus will wake you up. My guess is that you are not alerted by the normal stimuli because your serotonin level is still pretty high. But that's just a guess. It may be high if you are not getting restful sleep, or it may be abnormally high for other reasons.

Try seeing a sleep therapist and ask them what they recommend.

good luck!

Answer 2

i'm basically like that. I in all possibility does no longer hear a horn blowing in my ear whilst i'm asleep. For some reason, i'm ineffective to the worldwide. I actual have 2 cellular telephones (the two survive my mattress on an identical time as I sleep and that i set the alarms for them and my alarm clock). I even get awaken calls well-known. With all this, this is nonetheless no longer very helpful for me, yet maybe some thing like which will artwork for you. i'm hoping you detect the alarm clock because of the fact being previous due and dashing provides your day a bad start up. Can your parents wake you up? good success

Answer 3

Both my boyfriend and I have had this issue. He (as the other answerer suggested) got an alarm that is well, impossible to not hear. It is loud and obnoxious. (I hate it, but I understand) He also has a second alarm, and I have an alarm.
When I was in college, my roommate had to shake me to wake me up when we had a fire alarm - so I understand the importance and fear involved. My problem seemed to resolve itself as I got older (I'm 27). It seemed as I started to worry about my boyfriend getting up, my maternal instincts kicked in and I can hear my alarm now. I always heard that once a person becomes a mother she hears EVERYTHING. I'm beginning to believe it.

Other suggestions to help: try getting into a regular sleeping pattern. Your body will adjust and will start to anticipate your alarm. I have always been a late night person, but since I got a job that requires me to be up early, I find that any day (even days off) I cannot sleep past 8am. I even find myself waking up before the alarm.

As for smoke detectors, and other emergency awakenings- unfortunately I have no advice other than to try to tune into your maternal instincts. Maybe even having a pet will help trigger that - it will give you someone else to be looking out for. It's weird, I know. It doesn't seem right that you would need to care about someone else to trigger it but it seems to work that way.

Good Luck.
I still ask my mom to call me on days that it's really important I'm up. And my boyfriend still asks me for wake up calls after I leave for work. Find someone you trust, who doesn't mind making sure you're up.

One other thought - depending on your age- for anyone reading this - if you are young, under 18, it may be that you are staying up too late. Our bodies, when we go to sleep produce the stuff the guy before me was talking about. However these chemicals take time to "wear off." Most of the time when we wake up groggy in the morning it's because our body is yelling "no, we should still be asleep." If your body is deep into your sleep cycle, it will be much harder to hear your alarm. This could be the case for anyone, but teens need more sleep than they think they do. Most people under 15 need at least 9 hours, most teens should get at least 8. Adults can skimp by on 7 but it's not recommended. I remember when I was in HS I averaged about 7 a night, sometimes less and I had a terrible time getting up.
*Of course this only helps with morning thing- not hearing smoke detectors, etc during the night*

Answer 4

Well I certainly have that problem and I don't think it's medical so the doctor won't help much. Some people are just sound sleepers. I just bought the loudest alarm I could find and I set several of them and put them right next to me. It works well. Try to find something really annoying, there are some annoying ones on phones. It will definitely wake you up.

Answer 5

I guess it is normal. The same thing also happens to me.

I never woke up with alarms. It's like i am very sound asleep to hear it.

And yes, if i have to wake up early the next morning, I make sure someone will wake me up.


It's also my problem.

Answer 6

i had the same problem before, until i bought an alarm clock that has a louder ring! plus i included my cellphone as well.......remember the louder the better!