Sleep is not recognized as an addiction by experts. However, excessive sleeping may be a sign of an underlying condition.
When it becomes almost impossible to open your eyes in the morning, or you find yourself struggling to get through the day without a nap, you may start to wonder: Is sleep addiction a real thing?
Get the facts on excessive sleepiness and learn whether sleep addiction is possible, plus steps to take if you feel like you’re sleeping too much.
According to the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS), “addiction is most commonly associated with gambling, drugs, alcohol and smoking, but it’s possible to be addicted to just about anything.”
Addiction is a brain disorder that involves compulsively craving a substance or behavior that may lead to the harmful pursuit of a “reward” or payoff.
But can this apply to sleep?
According to Gregory Potter, one of the United Kingdom’s leading specialists in nutrition, sleep, circadian rhythms, and metabolism, probably not.
“Sleep addiction is not a medically recognized condition,” he said.
According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, people with addiction use substances or engage in behaviors that become compulsive and often continue despite harmful consequences.
Sleep is a biological function and isn’t fundamentally harmful.
“To meet this definition, sleep would have to lead to harmful consequences, and this is very, very rarely the case,” Potter said. “The only exceptions would be instances such as someone doing something dangerous while sleepwalking.”
Mariana Bodiu, the psychotherapist behind the private practice SimplyWell in London, agrees.
“Just like breathing, sleep is biologically necessary to survive,” she said. “Can someone be addicted to breathing? Never say never, but it’s extremely unlikely, and the same is true for sleeping.”
In short, you probably can’t be addicted to sleep.
Currently, no academic paper recognizes sleep as an addiction, Bodiu notes. However, she adds that excessive sleeping can be caused by other conditions.
Potter agrees. “Hypersomnias are recognized sleep disorders characterized by long sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, or both,” he said.
Conditions that can cause excessive daytime sleepiness include:
- narcolepsy
- Kleine-Levin syndrome
- idiopathic hypersomnia
- sleep apnea
- dysania, or the inability to get out of bed
It’s very possible to have one of these conditions and confuse it for a sleep addiction.
The term “clinomania” is also making its way around the internet. Like dysania, it refers to the compulsion to stay in bed, but it’s not recognized as a diagnosable condition.
How to tell if you have a sleep disorder
Even though sleep addiction isn’t recognized as a medical condition, there are signs and symptoms to look out for that could indicate a sleep disorder, such as hypersomnia.
Signs of hypersomnia include:
- tiredness
- difficulty waking up after a long sleep
- irritability
- the need for naps
- memory difficulty
- brain fog
“Even though hypersomnia is not an addiction, those who have been diagnosed with it can suffer a wide range of side effects,” Bodiu said.
These include:
- low energy
- fatigue
- headaches
- migraine
- frequent loss of appetite
- restlessness
- hallucinations
- suicidal ideation
- memory loss
Help is out there
If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:
- Call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. Caring counselors are available to listen and provide free and confidential support 24/7.
- Text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 to connect with a volunteer crisis counselor for free and confidential support 24/7.
- Not in the United States? Find a helpline in your country with Befrienders Worldwide.
- Call 911 or your local emergency services number if you feel safe to do so.
If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.
If you’re not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.
In some cases, hypersomnia can be associated with other conditions like:
- diabetes
- obesity
- clinical depression
You may also be excessively tired due to poor sleeping habits, a disrupted sleep schedule, or behaviors during the day.
Bodiu notes that if the body is craving sleep, it’s likely that you really need it.
“Your body wants as much sleep as it needs, naturally waking you up when it’s well rested,” she said. “The hormones involved in our sleep cycles identify when the body needs to repair, rejuvenate, and recharge and so in effect puts us into snooze mode.”
If you still want to nap after a full night’s sleep, Bodiu says it may point to an issue with sleep quality.
Another possible reason you feel addicted to sleep could be related to a mental health condition.
“People with certain mental health disorders spend lots of time in bed,” Potter said. “This is quite common in some forms of depression, for instance. Some people with psychiatric disorders also have hypersomnia.”
Research shows that a psychological dependence on sleep may be a sign of depression. For instance, one 2018 study found a strong association between major depressive disorder and hypersomnia.
A 2024 study also notes that people with depression were found to sleep 2 hours more or 2 hours fewer than their typical sleep quantity.
One of the reasons for increased sleep, Bodiu explains, is due to a desire to escape one’s life.
“Individuals [thinking or] talking about escaping from reality might be driven by deep dissatisfaction with their waking life, with a desire to shut out all negativity in a coma-like state,” she said.
While most experts agree that sleep addiction is not a medical condition, it is possible to develop a dependence or addiction to sleeping pills. This can lead to symptoms of hypersomnia.
“Sleeping pills can successfully treat short-term insomnia,” Bodiu said. “When used correctly under the direction of a medical professional, they are unlikely to have a serious negative impact.”
You may not realize you have a drug dependence until you build a tolerance to the dosage or experience withdrawal symptoms from stopping use.
Signs and symptoms of sleeping pill dependence can include:
- memory problems
- fatigue and daytime drowsiness
- lack of focus
- coordination problems
- sleep disorders, such as sleepwalking
“Addiction usually happens over time, so sleeping pills should only be taken for short-term treatment,” Bodiu advised.
Depending on the type of drug and how long you take it, it may be safer to wean yourself off as opposed to stopping “cold turkey.”
In either case, always seek the support of a medical professional to help you through the process.
List of sleep aids with potential for dependence
Wondering whether your sleep medication might have the potential for dependence or addiction? Here is a list of common sleep aids that may lead to dependence over time:
If you have concerns about the medication you take or are considering taking, talk with a doctor to learn more.
Best nonaddictive sleep aids to try
If you’re looking for a sleep aid that doesn’t have the potential for dependence or addiction, several natural options can help you drift off:
- melatonin
- lavender capsules, teas, or essential oil in a diffuser
- chamomile
- valerian
- passionflower
- lemon balm
However, health professionals are becoming increasingly concerned about melatonin supplements due to mislabeling and prolonged use.
You can also try changing your sleep habits to help you manage insomnia and sleep disturbances. For example, avoid screens and caffeine before bed and get plenty of daylight during the day.
If your excessive sleepiness has become a noticeable pattern and is affecting your daily life, it’s important to talk with a doctor.
Since a sleep addiction isn’t a diagnosable condition, your fatigue may be due to hypersomnia, a mental health condition, or another health concern.
The
Even though a sleep addiction isn’t a recognized medical condition, there are many reasons you may be struggling with oversleeping.
Hypersomnia is a medical condition that leads to excessive tiredness, and some mental health conditions can also lead to sleepiness.
If you take prescription sleep medication and have the desire to sleep during the day, you may have a drug dependence on sleeping pills.
In any case, talk with your doctor to get support and find the solution that’s right for you.
Meg is a freelance journalist and features writer who covers culture, entertainment, lifestyle and health. Her writing has appeared in Cosmopolitan, Shondaland, Healthline, HelloGiggles, Reader’s Digest, Apartment Therapy, and more. T: @wordsbyMeg W: megwalters.co.uk