does anyone else have a circadian rhythm disorder?
I've been diagnosed by three sleep doctors with a circadian rhythm disorder and i'm having extreme difficulty rectifying it. my doctor has instructed me to take melatonin every night...as early as i can be home on a regular basis. he also instructed me to get as much light as possible when i wake up in the morning and as little as possible after 8pm...no being on the computer late at night...only watching t.v at night after 8pm in the dark. my biggest problem is that...although i'm 20 i'm afraid of the dark still...and i live with my boyfriend not my parents...so i always have the t.v on mute or i have the light on when i sleep and my doctor said absolutely no light when you are trying to fall asleep because my body's clock is based upon light. when i fall asleep in the dark i tend to have awful nightmares and am scared the whole time i am falling asleep unless my bf is awake while i'm falling asleep.
so i'm having trouble on that end. also he told me i can't work after 8pm...because i work in a retail store and i am exposed to a lot of bright light inside the store...either that or i have to wear sunglasses after 8pm...which will be completely embarassing and will make my sales goals even more unattainable. my boss is MOST DEFINITELY not going to allow me to only work until 8pm and probably won't be too pleased about the sunglasses thing either but i'm sure she could deal w/ it. so any suggestions on how to otherwise fix my body clock...its 5 am now and i'm still not asleep! yay. i'm not going back to the doctors until may 27th. so until then i am basically on my own trying to fix this. i'm also failing out of college because of it.
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Had to give a thumbs up to windrain (above). i usually dont answer questions that i feel already have a decent answer (in hope to not lower my "best answer percentage") lol, but seriously, i guess, who cares... this question interested me. got me wonder, there's got to be groups for this - maybe even a forum online with help/suggestions/support from others in the same situation. i'll have to check it out now. got me curious. =)
first, let me say, i have not actually been diagnosed by a physician, but all my life, i felt something was wrong w/me (as far as sleeping goes). just recently i started reading up online - self diagnosing myself w/this or the 24 hour sleep d/o or a combination of both. i'd love to go to the doctor now, but no insurance, & i can already imagine what the repeated visits will cost me.
anyways... i wonder how helpful this medicine is (melatonin).
now... being a full-time college student (& i work full-time) myself, i know it's next to impossible to find other jobs besides resturaunt & retail while in school, but maybe a resturaunt job would be better for you - just working the supper rush & you could be home by 7pm. problem less hourly pay, but usually you can make that up in tips & then some once you get use to your job in a few weeks or a month.
when looking for a job, you don't have to tell your employer you have a sleep d/o. (it's really none of their business.) just let them know, you're taking a full load at school, & you're looking for a change to enable yourself to be home earlier in order to get your homework done & study harder.
as for your extreme fear of the dark, i dont know what to say, except yes, get on top of that. the fear itself is normal, but you're taking it to an extreme which can't be healthy.
but like the previous post said, i definately think the tv even is too much of a distraction. what about a radio w/soft music? what about a night light - very dim & soft?
[this is even before i actually figured i had a sleep disorder. well, i have thought all my life something was wrong, but i did all this before i ever read up on suggestions for people w/sleep d/o's & these things seem to help me.] in my room, i have a red light bulb w/black lampshade & some black fabrics over it. sound a little trashy looking, but i pick out some nice fabrics & prints from walmart. the 1st one is just plain black fabric then on top of that i have a shear black w/a floral print. (it does go w/my purple, black & gray decor. =) it really dims the effect of the red light even more. in my bedroom, i have 2 windows. both have blinds i keep closed. then on top of them, i have that same plain black fabric (from walmart that i have over my lamp) layered 3 times - folded neatly as possible & actually just thumb tacked over both blinds going just beyond the window boarders. over that i bought an actual shear purple (goes w/my comforter) over a black fancy rod to frame the windows. this keeps out almost all light. i also have a mask for my eyes. other wise, the light from my alarm clock or those nights when the moon some how shines through all that fabric & my blinds, with my eyes closed, they will still wonder to the light i can see through my eye lids. i keep a glad plug-in w/a night light in my bathroom so in case i get up in the middle of the night, i dont have to turn the light on. i keep my whole house dark, but i leave the florescent light in my kitchen above my sink which is actually a really soft light (not sure why this seems to be, except that it is kind of framed w/wood or cabinets around it). it's light enough to light up each room from it's location, but still soft enough not to kill my eyes when waking up to it.
7:15am ~
yes, 1st thing in the morning, i use the bathroom, i dont turn the light on yet. i am preparing myself to face the daylight. washing my face/eyes, etc... then i make it a habit to go into my kitchen & turn the blinds open to allow the sunshine through. then i make it a habit, no matter what i think the weather is, to go to my front door & open it just for a second... to check my car windows (in the window for frost) & to take a minute to feel the actual temperature with my own skin (not a thermometer). then, turn the tv on & fix myself some breakfast (usually just a bowl of cereal)... not rushing, but really just waking up (b/c i'm still not fully awake)... not really even watching tv, but i'll usually go sit on the couch to eat. it might only be 10 minutes, but then i'll go get ready. yes, w/the lights on.
it's hard... especially b/c i dont ever feel like i get enough sleep, but seriously, i have forced myself to continue this everyday now for 6 months & i'm started to finally be able to fall asleep befor midnight now... which i've rarely ever been able to do my whole life unless i was up for 2 days in a row or was living on just a few hours of sleep for days on end.
i could probably go to sleep earlier, but w/my day, it almost is never over until 10pm.... so w/in the first couple hours of activity, sleep is not happening. 10-12 is my winding down period.
fridays is my catch up on sleep i missed over the weekend. saturday is my night to enjoy myself/friends/family. sunday is back to the routine for monday. (
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Do you think it's possible that sleep disorders are at the root of most common mental disorders?
I'm talking about depression and schizophrenia mainly. It's been documented that people who are deprived of sleep for long periods of time will show symptoms of psychosis, and people with depression tend to sleep in longer and feel fewer symptoms when they are well-rested. Could the conscious behavior of the mentally ill be symptoms of prolonged improper sleep, as if only a part of their brain had chronic insomnia and was the source of the malfunction?
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Dear Millenious C. Dingleberries................... sure, why not? at least a contributing factor.
Science really doesnt know much about the brain, it is all hypothetical, and even the brain function scans, are evaluated based on theory, not science. There is no 'evidence based ' methods for psychiatry, et al.
there is no proof that seratonin, or dopamine, or any of that is even real.
antidepressants are thought to be placebo by their own scientists........
I personally am more in the corner of the hormone experts that show balancing the hormones greatly improve a persons mental health and in some cases irradicate it entirely......
we know sleep is very important.....
your guess is as good as theirs , at this point.
PS what Patti above said is accurate........and many hormone experts believe that hormones cause schizp, bi polar, depression,etc .........hormones regulate sleep, btw (
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What are the names of some sleep disorders?
Insomnia isnt the only one right? i'v been having alot of trouble sleeping lately so i would like to no if i have a sleep disorder,
Best answer gets 5 stars
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OK this qxn is too general, so let's have some fun.
...sleep apnea...sleep paralysis...sleeping sickness...sleep deprivation...sleeping with teh wrong person....sleeping on the job......and sleeping around (
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How can I measure if I have sleep disorders?
For example running an overnight camera would require leaving the night light on which would bother my sleeping itself.
Letting the camera collect more light per picture would leave too seldom pictures to read movement.
It would probably be less complicated to record sounds for snoring.
Please give me all your ideas if you think of any.
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Go to the doctors and request for something that monoters your brain while you sleep. I had one done, they found abnormalities but said it was nothing to worry about. I would recomend it because it's free and you get the advise of a professional. (
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Whats the best cure for insomnia or sleep disorders?
I have a terrible habit of sleeping during the day and staying up all night wondering what the fck to do. Any suggestions?
And no, I don't drink blood.
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Insomnia is often caused by fear, stress, anxiety, medications, herbs, caffeine, depression or sometimes for no apparent reason. Make sure your bedroom is quiet and dark. Soak a tablespoon of mint leaves in a cup of water for an hour, drink every night. Check out http://useinfo-insomnia.blogspot.com/ for more info (
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What is a doctor who specializes in sleep disorders called?
Any help is great help! Thank you.
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RPSGT, standing for Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (
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Does anyone know how long it takes for gabapentin to start to work for sleep disorders?
I've been taking ambien for years and now it's not working so my doctor has switched me to gabapentin. I've taken it for 3 nights and I still am not sleeping, but I'm really foggy in the morning. If anyone can tell me how long it took for them, that would be sweet.
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Hmm, never heard gabapentin being used for sleeping. If it does not work after a few nights call your doctors office and see about getting it changed or making a new office visit.
(
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Do you know anything about children sleep disorders?
I have a 3 year old little boy and while he is sleeping, he will yell out, "No" and similar angry statements. I have searched the net about it, but all they say is not to wake him up. But sometimes he gets physical so then I do wake him up so he can realize that no one is out to get him hoping to get him to calm down but sometimes he won't wake up.
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they are called night terrors. and 99% of the time they do not remember them the next morning. sometimes when their little brain is sleeping it has so much to process that these things happen. my son has had them for several years. things that work for us: the last hour before bed is very calm... no tv, no bright overhead lights, just a lamp, just read stories, try to be quiet and gentle, cuddle, etc, the hour before that is for snacks and baths... he will probably out grow them. as long as he does not hurt himself or others do not worry about it. if he is getting physical and endangering himself consult your pediatrician. either way, research night terrors. Good luck. email me if you wanna talk! (
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My sleep rhythm is so out of whack! I start getting sleep at 5 in the morning and sleep until 3 pm!?
it throws all my normal duties of the day such as work and any normal activities including eating! I feel drowsy until 7 o clock. its like i live my day from 9 pm til 5 am. Its horrible. What can i do to reset my circadium rhythm
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I think you might be making this out to be more complicated than it is. Think of it along the lines of traveling and jet lag. Instead of going to sleep at 5am, stay up as long as you can, until it's night again if possible. That's it. If you fall asleep at, say, noon, then just do it again the next night, and maybe the next until you start getting tired at a time you'd prefer to go to bed. But I think it's best to just suck it up the first day and stay up all day/night to get it over with. (
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Treating sleep disorders due to head trauma?
In 2006 I had a car accident and had trauma to the left side of my head in the area right above where my ear is. I had a hairline fracture in my skull. I had a cat scan done and there was no brain injury sustained. Since my injury I’ve been experiencing fatigue throughout the day and trouble sleeping. Before the accident I use to sleep well with no problems and would wake up the next morning with energy all day. Now I wake up a few times during the night and only get about 5 hours of sleep, once I’m awake I cannot go back to sleep. I’ve been doing some research online and it seems quite common for people to suffer from sleep disorders after experiencing head trauma. Therefore, I believe my fatigue and various other symptoms that I use to never experience before the accident, one being irritability, is due to not getting enough sleep at night. With the research I have conducted, I have come to the conclusion that I have two options: Number one is to treat myself with time released melatonin (I believe my circadian sleep rhythms may have been disrupted), or number two going to see a sleep specialist/or maybe a neurologist instead?
Any advice or tips would be much appreciated.
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I don't think it's a physical or chemical thing, I think maybe you suffered some kind of emotional trauma, and that is causing your trouble sleeping. Have you tried going to bed and getting up at the same time each night and day, and ever sleeping during the day? Sometimes your sleeping patterns can go a bit off.
There are also some herbal remedies that you could try like nytol.
I wouldn't self-diagnose and try expensive remedies without consulting a specialist. If the problem continues to go on, then yes, I would see a sleep specialist/ neurologist. (
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