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I feel extremely burned out, tired, unexcited, un interested, from 5 pm till 1 am, then from 1 am until 6 am, I am burning with intensity and absolutely can't sleep, then I'm in bed from 6 am until 5 pm.

No responses suggesting anything, I only want to see if I can find anyone who's had this exact same thing and how they cured it. I'm expecting this to be an empty post.

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 You'll need to give a bit more detail about your situation in order to get a response. In any case, depression is a very serious illness and if you are experiencing the level of distress that keeps you from sleeping, you should be seeing a doctor or mental health professional. People here can tell you things that have helped them but an internet board is no replacement for skilled diagnosis and treatment by people with training in depression. – Karen Jun 7 at 21:57
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 Henry I hope you can get to a good MD asap. Sleep disturbance as you describe is common with depression. Vicious cycle for sure. – Crowlover Jun 7 at 22:16
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 ...I think everyone here is overreacting. This just sounds like a dramatic reaction to insomnia. – Kasra Jun 8 at 0:32
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 And I suspect your diet is deficient in some way. Try eating more of everything. – Kasra Jun 8 at 0:32
^ To Karsa, no, you are wrong, I'm not an idiot! it's not like insomnia, I sleep soundly, I just sleep like 18 hours a day! It's a little aggravating to say the least to hear you say that! – Henry S Jun 8 at 10:53

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I've have the SAME pattern going on for a few YEARS, except that I'm not "burning with intensity", simply wide awake when I need to sleep (1-6am) and sleeping (6am-4pm) when I need to be working, and lifeless and inactive otherwise. I also have ZERO appetite until at least midnight. In my case it's viscous-cycle depression that began with a tragedy in 2008, and now results from the very unhealthy lifestyle that took hold after that (I'm actually "over" the thing that initially got me down). Let's see if we can identify some common traits, and maybe compare results as we make lifestyle changes. If you'll play along, I'll document my modest changes here each week, and how I'm feeling :

  1. I'm 45 years old, male, ex-smoker (quit last summer)
  2. I used to work second shift (3-11pm) at a high pressure job, considered late night to be my evening, and bedtime to be around 6am -- have never adjusted since I left that job in 2008
  3. When I work, I work from home -- no clock to punch or boss to report to
  4. I drink lots of beer nightly, having the first around 11 and many more until 5 or 6 am
  5. I watch lots of TV or use the computer between 11 and 6 am
  6. I'm borderline obese
  7. I've had a horrible diet (pizza, delivery food) for years
  8. I lived a 100% sendentary, desk job lifestyle for years

MY ADMITTEDLY MODEST CHANGES FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 10:

  1. 30 MINUTE CIRCUT WORKOUT AND CORE EXCERCISES M-W-F (bought $10/mo planet fitness membership today)

  2. ELIMINATE PROCESSED, JUNK FOODS AND BEGIN INTEGRATING PALEO DIET

  3. ELIMINATE BEER IN FAVOR OF NO-CARB ALCOHOL (VODKA, WHISKEY), AND REDUCE NIGHTLY NUMBER OF DRINKS BY 1/2

I'll be next week with how this went, how I feel, and what's next.

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I'm exactly the same way that I have no appetite until midnight. And the only thing I can do at night is be on the computer. ALSO! My problem also started late 2008. My theory is that wireless, and cellphone towers, and electronics are to blame for that time period, and is the cause, but I can't escape those things. I follow a raw paleo diet, like aajonus Vonderplanitz, it's better than cooked paleo. But, I see you don't have a cure, just coping. – Henry S Jun 8 at 11:01
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This is definitely something you should see a medical professional about, Henry. The sleep disturbance you are describing is very extreme and could have a dozen different possible causes. A complete physical with blood work is the first order of business.

Whatever it is, it's almost certainly treatable, so don't worry too much and don't be afraid to ask for help.

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your adrenal glands are burnt out. you need to take time off from work and rest if you can. i would suggest drlwilson.com and his dietary and lifestyle protocol for adrenal fatigue.

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Maybe you are nocturnal like this guy:

http://paleohacks.com/questions/121844/what-if-im-nocturnal

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Does your energy level fluctuate in relation to daily workout at all? What's your exercise schedule & intensity like? My sleep schedule is pretty close to yours, but I've found that it's exercise-driven. My daily workout is 1700-1800, followed by protein intake. Usually wide awake until mid-morning, 0300-0400. However, moving workout to a.m./noon results in a normal sleep pattern of falling asleep 22-2300... the trick is to not be too tired in the morning to actually do PT.

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when I work out, I go into a deep depression where I can't talk, stand, think, or appear normal at all. Meaning it's extremely embarassing to work out in front of other people. – Henry S Jun 8 at 11:03

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