Need to sleep a lot... do I not have a vocation?

[DaughterOfMary6]

Dear All,

I feel much concerned with this matter. I need between 9 and 10 hours’ sleep. It’s a great deal when you’re considering becoming a nun. I’ve wanted it for 4 years now, and it is THE thing that prevents me from entering anywhere.
I need lots of sleep, and when I don’t get it at night, I take a nap. It’s just such a nuisance. I don’t know what to do about it.
You can’t assume the Religious Life, neither marriage in this state, because if you want to raise 9 children (I’m a Traditional Catholic) anyway you need the best health. Same for Latin Mass communities.

What do you think?

I would very much recommend that you return to the doctor and ask him/her to test for underlying thyroid conditions. You sound very much like me because I had major issues with insomnia but I really needed sleep. When I was finally able to get to sleep (sometimes not until 4 or 6 in the morning), I slept until late afternoon! My mom kept thinking that it was because I was lazy and had no willpower (I’m not working currently), but I had terrible fatigue that just wouldn’t go away no matter how much exercise or sleep I got. I kept pestering my doctors to look at my thyroid panel and they would all say that it was fine. I still had symptoms like you wouldn’t believe.

Finally, my psychiatric ARNP had my blood tested because I am on an antidepressant medicine that can mess with my kidney function. She included several other panels, including the TSH test. My TSH was through the roof at 6.69! This is a major sign of hypothyroidism because your body is trying to stimulate the production of more thyroid hormones. My primary doctor looked at the results and immediately prescribed Synthroid. I’ve been taking it for several weeks now and definitely see a difference. I’m also on B-12 and D3 for energy levels.

Since you said that your iron was deficient but you have taken care of it, I would guess that is not what is causing your problem. Please don’t worry about religious communities right now until you get an answer. It may be something very treatable. Best wishes!

 

[SerraSemper]

Echoing a lot of the other posters… please do visit your doctor. Since fatigue is a very common problem reported to doctors, make sure you emphasize how much it is affecting your life and that you need answers. Thryoid, sleep tests, and lots of other tests could help p(name removed by moderator)oint what’s making you sleep so much.

While I’d agree you wouldn’t be able to enter any community other than say the Visitation nuns, I think this issue would not pose an absolute obstacle to marriage. Yes, perhaps it would be unwise to have 9 children with that level of tiredness… however, that’s why responsible parenthood is part and parcel of marriage… not being able to responsibly have 9 children doesn’t negate a potential vocation to marriage! Obviously, the right spouse is key. But then there are other factors. If the wife doesn’t have energy, perhaps there is sufficient income for things like house cleaners, school, babysitters, etc…

 

[Alan55]

Many active religious orders no longer require celebration of the liturgical hours in common, which might cause an issue if you need lots of sleep. I really don’t think that your need for sleep is as big an issue as you think. As long as you’re upfront about your concerns, I’d encourage you to talk with religious orders that you are attracted to and let them advise you. Even better than consulting with others on Catholic Answers!

 

[Bebekoualy]

Thank you so much for your kind answers.
I ceased to suffer from insomnia as soon as I left my job. However, I still need a great deal of sleep, between 9 and 10 hours.

I consider it’s my physical state at the moment and a priest told me not to consider entering anywhere for a few years, but it doesn’t prevent me from thinking about marriage. actually it’s a consoling way, because thinking of the religious state is painful for me at the moment.

 

[Lady_Love]

I think it is so good that you know yourself so well and what you need to live optimally. God made us all unique and we don’t all fit into the box. If you are up front about your needs with the sisters they will choose to accommodate your needs or send you on your way. It may be this very thing of “needing sleep” that brings you to the right community for you.

I entered a convent years ago and I did not get enough sleep. I was always tired, miserable and crying. That is not what God wants for His bride. Jean Pierre Cussade in Abandonment to Divine Providence speaks of certain saints who need many comforts. The need for sleep should not prevent you from living your vocation.

Trust God.

 

[Bebekoualy]

I think it is so good that you know yourself so well and what you need to live optimally. God made us all unique and we don’t all fit into the box. If you are up front about your needs with the sisters they will choose to accommodate your needs or send you on your way. It may be this very thing of “needing sleep” that brings you to the right community for you.

I entered a convent years ago and I did not get enough sleep. I was always tired, miserable and crying. That is not what God wants for His bride. Jean Pierre Cussade in Abandonment to Divine Providence speaks of certain saints who need many comforts. The need for sleep should not prevent you from living your vocation.

Trust God.

Thank you. Yes I’m very irritable, upset and depressed when I need sleep. I’m so joyful and cheerful when I get enough sleep.
I still feel drawn to the Religious Life and might try a last attempt… (I know Leonie Martin had great difficulty too, amongst her sisters who all entered Carmel, Therese included. She finally ended up as a Visitation nun).