[EarthGirl]

I've never even heard of dsps before today but I've had the symptoms for about 4 years. I've always just accepted it that I won't sleep before 4am and ive always found it so frustrating that everyone else can when I can't! I was diagnosed with insomnia and told to get up early and keep myself busy. But I get up at 8 for college and work and it makes no difference!! Everyone assumes it will go away and seem to think I'm too active at night and blame the fact that I don't go to bed early enough. Its been so so frustrating and I can't believe its a real *thing*!!

I actually cried when I read the symptoms and found out about it! It all fits in and I'm so happy other people have this too!

Its 3am now and I really dot care that I'm still awake or that I have to be up at 8am. I finally have an explanation!!!

[RIGGS]

DSPS is often misdiagnosed, I was diagnosed with SAD, Insomnia, and a bunch of other things and actually DSPS was not even a recognized diagnosis 4 years back (not totally sure on that but it is relatively new) but what has me puzzled is you said it's only been 4 years since you had these symptoms and typically DSPS is something you have from early childhood through late teens and it either stays or goes on it's own. I remember staying up till 4am as early as 8 years old and have never been able to get up at 8am even when I was in grade school I would end up riding my bike to school because my mother had gotten sick of driving me or coming home from work because I would miss the bus more than I would catch it.

Things got easier in High School, I adjusted my free hours to be early in the morning and would only miss 'homeroom' or roll call which would inevitably get a phone call to my mom asking why i wasn't in school but she mostly ignored these. This almost cost me my diploma due to absences and back then DSPS was basically non-existent.

I was called lazy, spoiled, self-absorbed you name it I endured it. In the workplace it was a joke, after college (which I just now managed to finish (I'm 37)) I was told by the U of M sleep clinic to get a night watchman's job or drive a cab. DSPS is a curse and hopefully yours will disappear as quickly as it appeared or you can look forward to a very difficult professional life.

Not all is bad though, no one bothers to expect me at early morning functions and they all know they can call me at 3am without waking me up.

Regardless, glad you found this forum it's my first time here as well maybe others have found things that work for them that I have not already tried.

[EarthGirl]

Yeah ive had to live with the "lazy" accusations for a long time as well. I believed it myself as well because it made no sense why I was so incapable to do anything in the morning. The problem was I assumed everyone was as tired as I was when they woke up and just thought they were dealing with it better. Its never really occurred to me that someone could feel refreshed after sleeping.

Thing is when I say 4 years I mean that how long its been bad enough to affect my life. Ive always had trouble with sleep but its only been for those 4 years that ive recognised it as a problem. I left 6th form early because I couldnt cope. Now at college ive got 2 cause for concern letters about being late. I can very rarely make it in for my morning lessons. But if I tell my teachers its because I can't sleep, theres very little understanding. I get told to try harder and set my alarm earlier. I'm determined to make it through the course though.

I'm 18 now. It must be hard having lived with it for as long as you have. I don't always mind being up at midnight when its nice and quiet. I just get sick of it at times.

[RIGGS]

Hopefully you will be one of the lucky ones, from what i've read it is possible you will just 'grow out of it' it happens to a very small percentage of those that have it. I really do hope you are one of those few as I've pretty much resigned myself to living with this forever all I can say is it does get easier once you accept people will very rarely understand and you just need to live your life the best you can and get accustomed to hearing the snide comments and condescending attitudes of the 'normals' that is certain to follow you.

[Pfree]

I usually can cope pretty well w/ folks lack of understanding around my crazy schedule. I try to find humor in it and own up to how eccentic it seems to others. But occasionally the comments like "must be nice" when folks see I've just gotten myself outta bed at noon,can hurt. Of course they don't know it was 5-6am when I fell asleep. People's assumptions never stop coming. It is so tiresome all the explaining. What is more tiresome is having to defend my attitude when I'm not following my circadiun rhythm and on auto pilot, w/ alarm clocks and coffee to make it to jobs or appts or visit my lark friends. If I've stretched and find myself running on 2-3 hrs sleep of course my attitude is off. Plus I get asked if I'm depressed and I have this dk cloud etc and jeeesh!! Sleep deprivation is exhausting! I find I am turning into even more of a recluse because of it. I only do mornings when I have no choice. Why should we have to explain ourselves. I try not to judge others and put out to the world non-resistance, and only ask the same. People are often disappointed when I can't show up either literally or too exhausted to be present. But these days my health is more important.

[DACMAC]

I have decided that the only people who will EVER be able to understand DSPS are people who HAVE DSPS! I have been told that my "only problem" is that I don't have "good sleep heygine"! What??? Supposedly if I would go to bed and get up at the same time every day, I would be cured. Wow, really, that's all I have to do? Gosh, to think I have been coping this this problem for the last 15 years, and all I had to do was go to bed at 10 pm. This coming form family and friends. Now, if they can't see this as problem out of my control.... That said, I don't even mention my sleep problems to my family doctor. I have recently been told that a neurologist may be able to help. Maybe I'll try that, but in the meantime, my sleep problems are MY problems.