Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome

[SongsOfDragons]

Not to be self-diagnostic...well okay, maybe I am, but not an expert, but...

Lookie here!! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed_sleep_phase_syndrome)

Okay. I'm a student. 20 years old. I also like my sleep. Long lie-ins and stuff. Now I've just evolved from teenagerhood, so this may just be a runoff from that, but I seriously think that I may be seeing this when I leave university...

Since I was taking my GCSEs, I have not been able to fall asleep until about 2am. Seriously. Sometimes later. I just don't feel tired. I read in bed, play Gameboy/DS, read more, shut my eyes and count sheep...I don't drop off for hours. Then I'd happily get up at noon every day. Don't get me wrong, this isn't as bad as it could be and I can make a 9:00 lecture okay, but I can forsee problems.

I like my sleeping pattern. I'm most creative at nights; some of my best work has come to me at three in the morning, both on creative writing and in essays. When I had to work in F.Hinds this Xmas those days of 9-5 saw me going home absolutely knackered. I know what I'm like and how long it takes me to wake up if I'm forced to drag myself from my bed at seven am. Should I mention this to my doctor at all? My counsellor? Should I go and see the careers advisor next year and mention that I need to find something out of 'normal' hours?

:(

[Greenday]

I'd just write it down as to sleeping patterns. I don't know if I'd call it a syndrome. I mean, if someone sleeps till noon, why would they be tired at, say, 9pm-10pm? They shouldn't. They'd still have tons of energy, which would prevent them from easily going to sleep. And believing in this stuff is only going to have the mind force the body to stay awake till a certain time. The sub-conscience is that powerful.

[Broomjockey]

See, I'm odd. I don't really have a sleeping pattern other than I need more than eight hours, but less than nine. If I stay up until two in the morning, or later, I'll just get my 8.5, wake up, carry on, and then I can go to bed whenever the next night, even if it's like nine.

[NightAngel]

Well, there's just a syndrome for everything, eh?

I'm naturally a night person and always have been- even as a tiny child. I discovered long ago that I simply function better later in the day and into the night. I've tried to be a day person and I can do it but I don't feel as well.

If I can sleep until noon-ish and then be up until say 5/6am I'm much more productive. Which is why I work a job that is until midnight.

I remember the good old days when it wasn't a "syndrome" it was just being a "Night Person", "Night Owl" or "Insomniac" even. :lol:

If I were you I certainly wouldn't worry about it. I've survived into my 30's like this and foresee many more fine years amoungst The Night People. I need no diagnosis nor will I say I have some syndrome.

[MystyGlyttyr]

Mine started when I was about 13 or so, came with puberty. I just stopped falling asleep until 2 or so in the morning. Fortunately, I've gotten good at functioning on only three or four hours of sleep a night so it doesn't bother me too much anymore, but I do need to take some naps sometimes.

My poor parents just about went out of their minds trying to get me to sleep normal hours. First they cut me off caffeine cold turkey. Well, THAT certainly didn't help. Then they gave me sleeping pills, but I either had seriously bad reactions to them (night terrors AND sleepwalking at the same time, what joy!) or didn't even feel them. Then they had me running around wild all day so I'd be worn out. They sprayed my bed with lavender. Then warm baths. Then warm milk. (I HATE MILK.) Then more spicy food. Then less spicy food. Then a different mattress. Then turning out all the lights in the house. Then vitamins. Then...you get the idea.

Ten years later, I think they've juuuuuuuust about given up. :lol: It's not that I want to be up at all hours, it's just what comes naturally. As I put it to my dad, "I'm not awake because I'm on the computer, I'm on the computer because I'm awake." It's a very different animal.

Some people are just night owls, some may have some issues with their brain chemistry. A lot of people just always prefer the night, some people just get into it out of habit, some of us can't precisely tell what the deal is. I COULD probably get my hours shifted around to "normal", but I don't want to because I like nighttime better, because there's a hell of a lot less humanity around at night.

It certainly is easier to get a job that has hours more suited to when you're awake, though. And it never hurts to inform your doctor of anything you have questions about. (And I'm saying this as someone who despises doctors so it's really good advice.)

[BookstoreEscapee]

I'm with mae. Your body clock is probably just set to fall asleep later. I am the same way. I get up at 630am during the week, but I still have a hard time falling asleep before at least 11 or 12. On weekends I can easily stay up until 1-2am and sleep until 2 in the afternoon. (BTW, I'm 31.) Saturdays I tend to sleep really really late, and then Sundays I tend to wake up naturally around 10-11am. I think on Saturdays I'm trying to make up the deficit from during the week. I am trying to adjust my sleep schedule; 2 nights a week I have must-see shows that end at 11, and I try to be ready for bed before then so I can turn the lights out right at 11. I'm kinda looking forward to the tv season ending...

Some tricks I've read for adjusting your sleep schedule:

mae's suggestion of gradually moving your bed time by 15-30 minutes every week or so,
don't watch TV in bed (yes, I'm a hypocrite), or do other things in bed besides sleep; you want to train your brain to associate your bed with sleep and nothing else,
avoid caffeine in the afternoons/evenings (how late you can handle caffeine depends on how sensitive you are to it, of course, but some people can still be affected by it several hours later, so even if you have a soda/coffee in the afternoon, you can still be feeling it at bedtime)
try a hot shower/bath a little while before bed; after you get out of the hot water your body temp will go down and prompt your body to get ready to sleep (your temp naturally drops a bit at sleepy-time)
try to establish a bedtime ritual: read something relaxing (no thrillers/mysteries), a cup of tea (decaf, of course; also look for herbal teas meant to help sleep), yoga or breathing exercises if you're into that sort of thing


Here's a breathing exercise I've tried that actually does work, though it might take a bit of practice (it took me a few tries before it worked). Actually the first time it worked it freaked me out when I felt myself falling asleep, which then woke me up! lol

2-to-1 breathing
As you lie in bed, gently slow down the rate of exhalation until you exhale for twice as long as you inhale. You can coax a longer exhalation by contracting the abdomen slightly. Don't try to fill or empty your lungs completely - you are just changing the rhythm of your breath. In the beginning it may help to count 6 on the exhale and 3 on the inhale, or 4/2, or any 2-to-1 ratio you find comfortable. Focus on the smoothness of your breath, gradually eliminating all jerks and pauses.
Counting breaths
Using this pattern, lie in bed and pay close attention to your breath. It should flow smoothly, evenly and continuously. When the pattern is well-established, take:

8 breaths lying on your back
16 breaths lying on your right side
32 breaths lying on your left side

You'll probably fall asleep before you even complete the exercise.

[SongsOfDragons]

I've tried all that schedule-changing stuff...it doesn't work at all, it just makes me worse. I can recall how so many times my mum mentioned I was so much more 'awake' during holidays...simply because I could get up when I needed. I've tried EVERYTHING!!!

And, hee hee, unlike a lot of people I suppose I like putting a name to things. Photosensitive Generalised Epileptic Syndrome, Restless Legs, a version of Reynauld's Disease...