Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder

[OilFilters]

I have terrible problems with my sleep timing. I am self employed, and therefore can choose to sleep or be awake whenever I want. I usually cannot sleep at night for some reason. It's almost as if the darkness makes it hard to sleep. (not that using a light would be any better) Even when I change my schedule because I need to be somewhere during the day, I usually can't sleep at all until the next day. (24+ hours awake) I can be so tired I can't see straight, but, still can't get to sleep until the time is right.

Doctor doesn't really seem to care or even really take notice when I tell him. I guess I've got too many other issues and this isn't as important.

I have to wonder if I have this problem because I've been self employed my whole life. Ever since I got out of high school, I've been able to chose when I work and when I sleep. Nobody forcing me to chose anything. For some reason I always drifted towards staying up late, but not sure why...

 

[LoneRanger]

Originally Posted By: OilFilters

Doctor doesn't really seem to care or even really take notice when I tell him. I guess I've got too many other issues and this isn't as important.


Could be that or more likely just how medical treatment in USA has devolved into Assembly Line Medicine. Get the patients in, get the patients the he1l out. Full appt schedule, full waiting room, low insurance pay out for office visits equates to: You wait 30+ minutes in waiting/reception area, 15 - 30 minutes in exam room, MD (or Nurse Practitioner) pops in for your 5 - 10 minute ration of their time. And that's it. Next !! And the line moves forward one click. This is not so much the MD's desire at all, as it is a result of medical practice management companies that run the "business" side of things. And it gets 10x worse for patients on medicare. When I took my aged parents to their appt's the waits were even longer and the face time with the MD or NP even shorter, and in some cases rather abrupt.

The bit you hear about USA having the best medical system in the world is complete and total bee s. Profit over patient care. All day. Every day.

 

[SZR48207]

Originally Posted By: OilFilters
I have terrible problems with my sleep timing. I am self employed, and therefore can choose to sleep or be awake whenever I want. I usually cannot sleep at night for some reason. It's almost as if the darkness makes it hard to sleep. (not that using a light would be any better) Even when I change my schedule because I need to be somewhere during the day, I usually can't sleep at all until the next day. (24+ hours awake) I can be so tired I can't see straight, but, still can't get to sleep until the time is right.

Doctor doesn't really seem to care or even really take notice when I tell him. I guess I've got too many other issues and this isn't as important.

I have to wonder if I have this problem because I've been self employed my whole life. Ever since I got out of high school, I've been able to chose when I work and when I sleep. Nobody forcing me to chose anything. For some reason I always drifted towards staying up late, but not sure why...


I feel the same way about not wanting to sleep when it's dark out. I seem to fall asleep much better when it's light out.

And there are times when I feel more energized once the sun sets.


So to tie it back to DPSD, both of us may just be natural night owls. It's too bad I didn't go into an industry where the overnight shift pays more because I'd be rich by now.

 

[xxch4osxx]

Originally Posted By: ls1mike
Originally Posted By: maxdustington
Have you tried a white noise generator? I read that people who work shifts often use them.

I have to have a fan running all the time. I know that comes from the Submarine. Lots of Submariners have to sleep with them

When the fans turn off on a Submarine that means something is wrong, some sort of casualty. Fire, flooding, etc. So you get conditioned to listening to the fans.


That's interesting. I always have a fan on when I sleep, but I never served on a submarine or in any military service.