Living with Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome

I have had sleep problems for as long as I can remember. I had epilepsy as a child…and had to get tests done that required a sleep phase. I would be given medication that “should” have induced sleep, but they did not work for me. I would try to pretend to be asleep, but the doctors could tell I wasn’t by the readings they were getting. They would give me another “horse” dose, and I still couldn’t sleep. After several times of doing these…they decided they didn’t “need” the sleep part.

Over the years…my normal sleep time has been 3 a.m. to 11 a.m.

In high school, I couldn’t fall asleep at normal times….so would read books all the way through (a book a night) until 3 a.m. when I would finally feel sleepy. Luckily…I was still able to get up at 7 a.m. then and feel fresh enough to function through the day.

As I have gotten older, I still cannot fall asleep until 3 a.m., but now…I think because of age…I don’t feel refreshed with just 4 hours of sleep. Now, if I get that little of sleep I feel like I have jet lag all day long. Like I am in a fog and wanting to nap all day long.

A couple years ago I got a job as a bookkeeper for a small company. I am able to go in later to work..which has been good for my health, however, I am not allowed to work after 5 p.m. It has been a huge financial strain on me only getting 5 hours pay.

My husband gets mad at me all the time because I don’t work enough hours. He always tells me “just go to be earlier!!!!”

I have tried everything to try to fall asleep earlier, including alcohol, sleeping pills, no caffeine, laying in bed trying to force it. Nothing has worked.

It is frustrating and makes me feel like a failure…and a lazy person.

I felt such a sense relief when I stumbled upon this description of delayed sleep phase syndrome. I read the symptoms and everything described was and has been me!!!

I am hoping that now that I know what it is…I can try to see if the bright light therapy and the chronotherapy will finally help me get into a “normal” sleeping pattern.

Being a “normal” sleeper will make me feel physically, emotionally and financially better.