Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome

[livingwith]

Hello all, my name is Eric. To cut to the chase I have had major sleeping issues for sometime now. I would say probably going on 8-9 years. I never took it to seriously because I never really had any major responsibilities besides school, which still to this day I go in the evenings due to me not being able to get up in the mornings. I just celebrated my 22nd birthday and am finally going to buckle down and try and find help. I have tried almost everything you can think of to try and rid me of t...Read the full article

[jman]

Eric,
Yes it certainly sounds like you do have DSPS. I am 14 and have been dealing with it the past 2 years.
I missed over 70 days of school my 8th grade year as well as many tardies or half days. I am the same way -- without medicine i fall asleep between 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. and tend to sleep 8 to 12 hours then. As you know you end up sleeping most of the day away. This sux when all your friends are out and doing sports.
Basically my mother diagnosed me and informed the doctors -- several diferent doctors i have been to see. Child counselors, psychologists, family doctor and the sleep wellness clinic doctor. Well they all agree i have DSPS. We tried all the suggested treatments. Such as, sleep hygiene, light therapy, chronotherapy, melatonin and other meds. None succeeded -- right now i take a sedative called Trazodone and that has helped get me to sleep but not always. I deal with headaches and naseau often during the day. Unfortunately from what we have read on this site most people have this the rest of their lives -- no cure. Basically they adjust their life to their sleep pattern. So they get a 2nd or 3rd shift job or go to school in the evenings and work at night.
Anyway good luck and you probably won't make it at that job or at least if you stay on first shift.
But maybe you should try TRAZODONE - 50 to 150 mg most adults use. i usually take 50.
Jman