advertisement
Reply
Thread Tools Display Modes
Skeezyks
Disreputable Old Troll
 
Skeezyks's Avatar
Skeezyks has no updates.
 
Member Since: Oct 2015
Location: The Star of the North
Posts: 32,762 (SuperPoster!)
8 yr Member
17.4k hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Question Nov 01, 2020 at 05:45 PM
  #1
I'm wondering if anyone has had experience with Sundown Syndrome. For a while now, I've been experiencing what, to me, sounds similar to what I've read about it.

Every afternoon, starting around 4:30 or 5 PM, I experience a noticeable increase in my anxiety level. I also begin to feel a slight dizziness along with what I suppose might be referred to as depersonalization / derealization. (I'm actually in the midst of it as I write this.) It's a strange feeling as though I'm kind-of mentally collapsing in on myself... if that makes any sense. Sometimes I even feel as though my gait is a bit off... sort-of heavy as though I'm walking through mud or perhaps wearing lead-weighted shoes.

I've read that Sundown Syndrome is sometimes associated with dementia, but not always. (I don't think I have dementia... at least not yet.) And I don't think there's anything to be done about it. I just ignore it as best I can & go about whatever it is I'm doing, typically eating dinner & then cleaning up afterward. (It does seem to moderate as as the evening progresses.) But I am interested in anyone else's experiences with it. Thanx!
Skeezyks is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
*Beth*, RoxanneToto, Travelinglady, unaluna
 
Thanks for this!
*Beth*

advertisement
unaluna
Elder Harridan x-hankster
 
unaluna's Avatar
unaluna Female luna moth - Please, dont @mention me?Thanks!
 
Member Since: Jun 2011
Location: Milan/Michigan
Posts: 39,751 (SuperPoster!)
10 yr Member
66k hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Nov 01, 2020 at 06:18 PM
  #2
Idk. Altho i did notice in this week leading up to daylight saving going off, that i went to bed earlier and earlier, as if my body knew it was "falling back".

Also, even tho for some of us, life during covid isnt too much different from before, i am noticing myself to be more aware of when is the end of the day. Altho again thats recent, and may be influenced by a med change.

Do you take an afternoon nap?
unaluna is online now   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Thanks for this!
Skeezyks, Travelinglady
Skeezyks
Disreputable Old Troll
 
Skeezyks's Avatar
Skeezyks has no updates.
 
Member Since: Oct 2015
Location: The Star of the North
Posts: 32,762 (SuperPoster!)
8 yr Member
17.4k hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Smile Nov 01, 2020 at 08:14 PM
  #3
Quote:
Originally Posted by unaluna View Post

Do you take an afternoon nap?
Thanks for replying to my post! No I don't typically take an afternoon nap. Occasionally I do. What's more likely is that I'll fall asleep watching TV or listening to music during the evening. I try to stay awake during the day as much as possible so I'll be able to sleep (again as much as possible) at night. But I often don't do a very good job of either one.
Skeezyks is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Thanks for this!
Travelinglady
CalMSW
Member
CalMSW has no updates.
 
Member Since: Apr 2015
Location: Hemet, CA
Posts: 43
8 yr Member
76 hugs
given
Default Nov 02, 2020 at 10:29 AM
  #4
I'm sorry to hear about your symptoms. Both my mom and my mother-in-law had dementia along with Sundown Syndrome. We noticed things they said made less sense at the end of the day, and they also had more anxiety. The following article may be helpful: Sundowner'''s syndrome: Symptoms, causes, treatment, tips, and more
CalMSW is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Thanks for this!
*Beth*, Skeezyks, Travelinglady, unaluna
Skeezyks
Disreputable Old Troll
 
Skeezyks's Avatar
Skeezyks has no updates.
 
Member Since: Oct 2015
Location: The Star of the North
Posts: 32,762 (SuperPoster!)
8 yr Member
17.4k hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Smile Nov 02, 2020 at 04:23 PM
  #5
Quote:
Originally Posted by CalMSW View Post
I'm sorry to hear about your symptoms. Both my mom and my mother-in-law had dementia along with Sundown Syndrome. We noticed things they said made less sense at the end of the day, and they also had more anxiety. The following article may be helpful: Sundowner'''s syndrome: Symptoms, causes, treatment, tips, and more
Thanks for replying to my post & for the link to this article. Some of the ways it describes Sundown Syndrome sound right on target in terms of what I'm experiencing. But other parts don't sound relevant to me at all. So I don't know. Perhaps I'm simply barking up the wrong tree, so to speak? Time will tell I suppose. At least at this point, what I experience is all internal & has no effect on my spouse. In fact I haven't even mentioned it to her & don't plan to.
Skeezyks is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
CalMSW, Travelinglady, unaluna
 
Thanks for this!
Travelinglady
NatalieJastrow
Veteran Member
NatalieJastrow has no updates.
 
Member Since: Aug 2020
Location: LA
Posts: 505
3 yr Member
250 hugs
given
Default Nov 02, 2020 at 04:50 PM
  #6
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skeezyks View Post
Every afternoon, starting around 4:30 or 5 PM, I experience a noticeable increase in my anxiety level. I also begin to feel a slight dizziness along with what I suppose might be referred to as depersonalization / derealization. (I'm actually in the midst of it as I write this.) It's a strange feeling as though I'm kind-of mentally collapsing in on myself...
Is it related to the darkness? I know when we put the clocks back I have a feeling of anxiety / depression from the dark. It is as if I am trapped. The darkness coming so early -- I don't feel it in the summer because, typically, the darkness comes with the time i am sleeping.

The darkness I think causes anxiety because I don't feel like I see well in the dark and I feel like if anything went wrong it would be that much more difficult to deal with things. I can see someone older feeling anxiety about falling or not seeing well.

I typically go to my bedroom earlier (even if I don't sleep) to battle it.
NatalieJastrow is online now   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
*Beth*, CalMSW
 
Thanks for this!
*Beth*, Skeezyks, Travelinglady
Skeezyks
Disreputable Old Troll
 
Skeezyks's Avatar
Skeezyks has no updates.
 
Member Since: Oct 2015
Location: The Star of the North
Posts: 32,762 (SuperPoster!)
8 yr Member
17.4k hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Smile Nov 02, 2020 at 05:20 PM
  #7
Quote:
Originally Posted by NatalieJastrow View Post
Is it related to the darkness? I know when we put the clocks back I have a feeling of anxiety / depression from the dark. It is as if I am trapped. The darkness coming so early -- I don't feel it in the summer because, typically, the darkness comes with the time i am sleeping.

The darkness I think causes anxiety because I don't feel like I see well in the dark and I feel like if anything went wrong it would be that much more difficult to deal with things. I can see someone older feeling anxiety about falling or not seeing well.

I typically go to my bedroom earlier (even if I don't sleep) to battle it.
Thanks for replying to my post! While I suppose the earlier sunset isn't helping, this has been going on for a while now. I'm not sure when I first began to notice it. But I've been aware of it for at least several months including throughout this past summer. You mentioned feeling trapped as a result of the darkness. In my case I feel a strong urge to go hide somewhere. Going to my bedroom would, perhaps, be one option. However my spouse would never put up with that.
Skeezyks is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
*Beth*, CalMSW, NatalieJastrow, RoxanneToto, Travelinglady
 
Thanks for this!
Travelinglady
*Beth*
catches the flowers
*Beth* is practicing healthy breathing for brain, mind, body, spirit.
 
Member Since: Jul 2019
Location: Downtown Vibes, California
Posts: 15,701 (SuperPoster!)
3 yr Member
23.7k hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Dec 06, 2020 at 08:37 PM
  #8
During the darker months I battle depression and anxiety; the anxiety is always at its worst right around 4 p.m. I know that when 6 p.m. rolls around there will be some relief. My pdoc mentioned that what I was describing reminds her of sundown syndrome.

__________________




*Beth* is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
CalMSW, Skeezyks, Travelinglady
gewone
New Member
gewone has no updates.
 
Member Since: Mar 2011
Posts: 3
10 yr Member
Default Dec 13, 2020 at 11:59 AM
  #9
Thanks for filling me in on this, tbh I had to Google it. The more you live the more you learn.
gewone is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
CalMSW, Travelinglady
 
Thanks for this!
*Beth*, Skeezyks
poshgirl
Veteran Member
poshgirl has no updates.
 
Member Since: Sep 2018
Location: Birmingham UK
Posts: 603
5 yr Member
229 hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Apr 05, 2021 at 12:10 PM
  #10
I've also heard this mentioned in the context of dementia.

My mother is the same, although not diagnosed. It happens to her at other times of the day. A doctor has said it can be associated with dehydration and meds. In her case, the latter was proven. Her "ramblings" one day were not lack of fluids due to the very hot weather but an excess of calcium in her system. Solved that problem, but still having to remind her to drink plenty of water.

Can also be, rightly or wrongly, linked to diet. A low blood sugar level impairs our thought process and ability to do normal tasks. Unfortunately, the instant remedy isn't biscuits or cake!
poshgirl is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Thanks for this!
*Beth*, CANDC, Skeezyks, Travelinglady
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:57 AM.
Powered by vBulletin® — Copyright © 2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.



 

My Support Forums

My Support Forums is the online community that was originally begun as the Psych Central Forums in 2001. It now runs as an independent self-help support group community for mental health, personality, and psychological issues and is overseen by a group of dedicated, caring volunteers from around the world.

 

Helplines and Lifelines

The material on this site is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider.

Always consult your doctor or mental health professional before trying anything you read here.