Delayed sleep phase syndrome

dragonkin

I only recently discovered this and I think I've got it bad, I had a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed_sleep_phase_syndrome and most of it seems a pretty close fit. Anyone know a doctor/clinic that specialises in DSPS?

I've had a look at http://www.isat.ie/ but it seems to be only for people with sleep apnoea.

ilovedesign

On that website for sleep apnoa you can find a number of sleep clinics. Alot of the hospitals have dedicated sleep departments. I'm getting help at Vincents but loads of of the other hospitals have sleep clinics.

Zillah

I'm a nightowl who constantly stays up late and sleeps late every chance he gets. I don't have this condition though.

Do you always get up early in the morning for work even though you've only slept a few hours, or do you constantly indulge it and stay in bed until the afternoon?

If its the former then you probably have a problem, if its the later then you're just lazy and should make yourself get up in the morning, you'll be tired at night and can go to bed

Enigma365

dragonkin wrote:

I only recently discovered this and I think I've got it bad, I had a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed...phase_syndrome and most of it seems a pretty close fit. Anyone know a doctor/clinic that specialises in DSPS?

I just read about this today and I have to say that it has been an ephiphany for me. I have always had the problem of going to sleep later and later each night and sleeping in later and later each morning. I have always had difficulty maintaining a regular sleep pattern, no matter how hard I try. I thought I was just really ill-disciplined or lazy (as did all my friends and family) for staying up half the night and sleeping in until lunchtime or later. However, this condition seems to describe my sleeping habits/problems in exact detail.

This has become especially relevant in recent months as I have finished college and started working 9-5. In college it was easy enough to manage, as mornings were generally optional but it is much harder now that I am working. I find I'm mostly a zombie during the week and sleep half the week end to make up for it. In general my quality of life has suffered and I find it difficult, though not impossible, to deal with it.

I'm sure many people reading this will still think I'm just lazy and making excuses but I will honestly say that I would pay a years salary no question, if I could be given a cure that would enable me to go to bed at 11/12 each night and get up at 7/8 each morning. It really is that annoying.

Lack of public awareness of the disorder contributes to the difficulties experienced by DSPD patients, who are commonly stereotyped as undisciplined or lazy. - Wikipedia

If anyone has any tips on how to deal with this condition, it would be much appreciated. Is there anything medically that can help?

dragonkin

Enigma365 wrote:

I just read about this today and I have to say that it has been an ephiphany for me. I have always had the problem of going to sleep later and later each night and sleeping in later and later each morning. I have always had difficulty maintaining a regular sleep pattern, no matter how hard I try. I thought I was just really ill-disciplined or lazy (as did all my friends and family) for staying up half the night and sleeping in until lunchtime or later. However, this condition seems to describe my sleeping habits/problems in exact detail.

This has become especially relevant in recent months as I have finished college and started working 9-5. In college it was easy enough to manage, as mornings were generally optional but it is much harder now that I am working. I find I'm mostly a zombie during the week and sleep half the week end to make up for it. In general my quality of life has suffered and I find it difficult, though not impossible, to deal with it.

I'm sure many people reading this will still think I'm just lazy and making excuses but I will honestly say that I would pay a years salary no question, if I could be given a cure that would enable me to go to bed at 11/12 each night and get up at 7/8 each morning. It really is that annoying.

If anyone has any tips on how to deal with this condition, it would be much appreciated. Is there anything medically that can help?

I had pretty much the exact same experience after reading it and have been trying to do a bit of research. I think the worst part is that everyone thinks you're just a lazy git.

Wikipedia seems to have most of the info however have a look at this pdf for a good overview. Alan Berliner has made a documentary about it although I haven't seen it.

It's only recently that I've come across an 'official' name as such and it is nice to know that their are other people in a similar situation.

Wikipedia lists known treatments and people seem to have had varying amounts of success with melatonin and lightboxes in particular but I've never tried these so I can't really vouch for their effectiveness. The general consensus is that it is treatable to an extent but no magic bullet exists and I've no desire to take medication forever (although a bit of weed every night might not be too bad ).

I was least affected when I had an outdoor job involving exercise and sun all day but I still had problems and just playing sports/going to the gym doesn't have the same effect.

A lot of people just try and get jobs that work around it but I'm going to at least try a few of the other options before I go down that route.

Andrewf20

I am a big nightowl, but when I was living in the USA in Portland a few years ago, I had no problems going to bed at 2230 and getting up at 9am. Here in Ireland, its more like, go to bed at 2am, get up at Midday. Strange.

moneyblues

I've had this condition all my life and believe it is the primary cause of my severe fibromyalgia which is a chronic pain disorder accompanied by sleep disorder.

the wiki article was very good and has given me a couple of ideas to try. Does anyone know of a stockist for full spectrum light bulbs in Dublin? I've had no luck tracking these down and don't want to order from the UK as they would be unlikely to survive posting!

unreggd

I have this

not good when u have college at 9am every mornin

Zillah

unreggd wrote: »

I have this

Again, are you sure you're not just sleeping too late when you get the chance?

unreggd

Nope

I dont get tired til abt 2.30

If I have to be up early for somethin important and I go to bed at 11/12, im wide awake, but then I get frustrated that I cant sleep so stay awake longer

Startin back to college this year i hit the hay at 11 and was so stressed abt not fallin asleep i didnt sleep at all

so to at least guarantee the 4.5 hours I can get, i go to bed at 2.30

I slept pretty early when I was in hospital a few weeks ago, usually abt 12.30, but that could be from pain, medication etc


But yeah, im not just jumpin on the band wagon, i googled the hell out of it before i came to any conclusions

lil_lisa

you shouldnt go to bed when you feel tired, you should try go earlier, your body might be tired but your mind might not feel the effects for a while after it, you'd be suprised!