How Naps Affect My Schizoaffective Disorder

Do naps affect schizoaffective disorder? For me, they do—in a good way. Here’s how naps improve my schizoaffective disorder.

Naps Are Usually Good for My Schizoaffective Disorder

I’ve known for a long time that naps ease my schizoaffective disorder because I always feel better after a nap. My husband, Tom, loves to take naps on his days off from work at a bank. It’s his favorite thing to do. And he likes to take naps with me. So, we started having what Tom calls “lie-downs” together in the afternoon.

It wasn’t until very recently, though, that it clicked with me about the positive effects naps have on my schizoaffective disorder. I wake up feeling refreshed. (Sometimes I have nightmares, though. A nightmare can mess with my head for at least an hour after a nap or a night’s sleep. But, in the big picture, the naps are worth it.)

It’s hard for me to take a nap every day. Some days, I have too much to do, like on Mondays when I have therapy in the afternoon.

But, honestly, I usually don’t have that much on my plate. And, except for when I’m napping with Tom, I only nap for two hours maximum.

I’m dieting again, and I tend to snack when I’m bored. So, sometimes, I take naps instead of snacking. Some people may think this isn’t healthy, but it works for me.

Just Because Naps Positively Affect My Schizoaffective Disorder Doesn’t Mean I’m Lazy

I think there’s a stereotype that people who don’t have that much to do and who take naps are lazy. Well, there’s a difference between having low energy and being lazy, I feel. A lot of the reason I’m low on energy is because of the medication I take for my schizoaffective disorder. A long time ago, years before I started writing for HealthyPlace, my medications at the time zonked me out all day, and I was up all night. For a long time, I slept all day and watched infomercials all night. A medication change switched me back to a normal schedule of being up all day most of the time and sleeping at night.

Sometimes, I’m afraid that napping too much will switch my sleep cycle back to sleeping all day and staying up all night. But then I remember that a shorter nap helps me sleep at night. So, I don’t think I need to worry about that.

So, those are some of the ways that naps affect my schizoaffective disorder. Do you find that napping helps you? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.