[kmblouvet]

I just recently began researching DSPS and have found that the symptoms correspond with my "night owl" life. I rarely fall asleep before 3 am. When i do try to sleep earlier all i do is lay wide awake and toss and turn. Most nights i go to bed at midnight and read till i fall asleep which doesnt really help me fall asleep before 3am. Ive tried talking to my parents about this but all i get from them is that im lazy and that i never learned how to sleep at a normal time. The nights that i try to go to bed early i feel anxious and fidgety and does nothing but prolong my ability to fall asleep. As im a college student i have tried to adjust my class schedule to have later class times but this isnt always an option. The classes that i do have in the morning i tend to over sleep or show up tired and barely able to pay attention. When i do oversleep i tend to turn off my alarm without realizing it till later in the day when i wake up naturally. As this is finals week last night i was again unable to sleep so at around 4 this morning i began studying for one of my finals. Its now 6pm and besides haveing a slight headache i am wide awake. I tried earlier to take a little nap but was unable to fall asleep. I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to get people to take you seriously when you talk about this. again my parents just believe that i have the inablility to discipline myself to sleep at night. or maybe i am just lazy as my parents say any thoughts would be helpful.

[YYCchick]

As a mom I would suggest showing your parents this site ... and your post :) Sometimes as parents we just dont "get it" or want to get it I guess ... I sure know that if I saw that post from my child reaching out to someone for help I would certainly take notice :)

[sandyboo]

Hi, I agree...show your parents this site. Im a Mom and My son is now 14yrs old. I am a Massage Therapist (18yrs) and have tried every relaxation technique in the book. Its a true issue and shouldnt be dismissed but learned about and dealt with accordingly. take care

[InTheseBones]

I'm 15, and for a very long time I was just labled lazy and attention seeking as a result of my sleeping problems. Being misunderstood by everyone else was probably one of the worst things about it.

My school life has been affected so much by it all, and its gotten so bad andnot improved atall and my mum turned round to me and said "I don't believe that your just being lazy and choosing to be like this anymore.. Because its your future thats being comprimised, and your too smart to do that on purpose." So when you do talk to your parents point that out. Tell them you do care about your future, and you want help to "learn to sleep at normal time" as they said.

I agree with the posts above mine, show your parents this thread, and theres loads of information on wikipedia on dsps.

I know its so easy to roll over in bed and stop going to school. To give up fighting, and say "yeah maybe I am just a lazy person. Maybe I brought all this on myself." But I think you know in yourself that isn't true or you wouldn't have searched for answers and reasons. Giving up is easy short term, but so hard in the long run.

Good luck x