Living with Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome

For a year and a half now my son has struggled with falling asleep. It became worst at the start of 7th grade. By the end of october 2007 i took out of school as he begged me to homeschool him. He had already missed 15 days of school and fell asleep often in class. I also noticed anxiety and depression increased. Being a divorced single mom with 2 other children i knew i couldn’t homeschool him next year so we started with the psychiatrist He was diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

That summer he started on paxal and then added at the start of 8th grade serequel at night. He hated the medication how it made him feel and it DIDN’T HELP HIM GET TO SLEEP. By Thanksgiving 2008 we were still very frustrated. HE USUALLY FELL ASLEEP BETWEEN 2 N 4 A.M. and would try to get to school by 10:30 and stay till 4. Many days he didn’t arrive till 12 and the days he fell asleep after 4 a.m. he missed the whole day.

That weekend my sister and i went to borders and looked at 5 different sleep disorder books and checked the internet. All of what we read and saw in my son pointed to DSPS. WOW FIRST TIME I EVER HEARD OF IT!!! But it was great to understand what was goin on and why. I bought the book SLEEP DISORDERS FOR DUMMIES and printed out treatment suggestions from the internet. I brought it all to the school and explained to the psychiatrist why we were stopping the medications. They seemed to agree that it fits his symptoms.

Then we went to our family doctor who i respected very much. i brought in all of my informaion and the treatment i had begun. We already had obtained a light box, melatonin and tried chronotherapy once — so far without any success. The doctor was inpressed with what i had found and done with my son so far. He admitted he would not of thought of this disorder - Circadian Rythym Disorder with a result of DSPS.

He agreed that the diagnosis i had found was correct and confirmed it for the school. Thus far my son has missed 25 days of school and 31 partial days. He is failing a few of his 8th grade classes though is very smart and tests above grade level. Last week we tried CHRONOTHERAPY again still no change. He is so frustrated that he can’t be at school with his friends and play on the basketball team and achieve the good grades he would like to have as he looks ahead to high school and college. He is a very intelligent, athletic young man that has not been able to participate in normal life!!!

I have stopped working to take care of my son and be there with him during the night when every one else is sleeping. I have enjoyed our time talking, reading, playing guitar hero and our trips to George Webbs at 3 a.m. But it isn’t easy and i havn’t worked much in the last 3 months — this means no money for rent etc. My son feels guilty for that. I have no family close by so it is me — his mom that needs to be there for him.

I DON’T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO!!! DOES ANY ONE HAVE OTHER IDEAS?? PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!