3 ms·

Well, technically it's a disorder at that point - delayed sleep phase disorder, which I have secondary to ADHD. Circadian rhythm is genetically determined and

Well, technically it's a disorder at that point - delayed sleep phase disorder, which I have secondary to ADHD. Circadian rhythm is genetically determined and all long term studies of delayed sleep phase show it's essentially impossible to change. However it's one of those things that's a disorder only because it goes against what our societies expect. I used to think I had insomnia for years, because I would try to sleep at "normal" times and struggled. When a sleep doctor suggested I change my sleep patterns to match my genetics, my perceived insomnia immediately disappeared. Now I just have to deal having with a sleep pattern that everyone else identifies as belonging to disaffected teenagers. FWIW, a recent study found a physical cause for this - something about a genetic mutation that causes our sleep-signaling hormones to be created without the tails they usually have to navigate to the correct spots in the brain. So once again, the people claiming "It's just willpower" are proven wrong. Funny how the more we learn about the brain, the more we realize that willpower as a concept fully within our control doesn't necessarily exist.

swader999 5y ago
ADHD meds can also confound sleep unfortunately.
- nick__m 5y ago
  When I don't need the impulse control I got from my meds, I flush them out of my blood¹ with alchohol-free IPA style beer² 1- Amphetamines are mostly eliminated unchanged in urine, methylphenidate needs to be processed be the liver before excretion so this anecdote isn't relevant to Ritalin and Concerta 2- IPA style because hop is a diuretic into itself and 0%ABV because it doesn't have the problem associated with daily alcohol consumption.
wombat-man 5y ago
I wasn't officially diagnosed, but this describes my tendencies. I don't know if it's placebo effect or what, but taking 1-2 mg of melatonin has helped get me on track. Now it's harder to stay up on weekends but ehhhh
fraudsyndrome 5y ago
> a recent study found a physical cause for this - something about a genetic mutation that causes our sleep-signaling hormones to be created without the tails they usually have to navigate to the correct spots in the brain I know someone who is currently going through the diagnosing phase, could you please link that study? Their GP mentioned that you could take medication to "work" through it in order to match societies "normal" times. I don't know what a hormone "tail" means but if they have trouble navigating to the correct spots in the brain, how does it eventually find the correct spot? That reads to me like the hormone won't be able to navigate to the correct spot or it'll have trouble every time but from what I read those with DSPD do have a typical, consistent sleep time, it's just delayed (relative to the majority of people)

swader999 5y ago

ADHD meds can also confound sleep unfortunately.

nick__m 5y ago
When I don't need the impulse control I got from my meds, I flush them out of my blood¹ with alchohol-free IPA style beer² 1- Amphetamines are mostly eliminated unchanged in urine, methylphenidate needs to be processed be the liver before excretion so this anecdote isn't relevant to Ritalin and Concerta 2- IPA style because hop is a diuretic into itself and 0%ABV because it doesn't have the problem associated with daily alcohol consumption.

wombat-man 5y ago

I wasn't officially diagnosed, but this describes my tendencies. I don't know if it's placebo effect or what, but taking 1-2 mg of melatonin has helped get me on track. Now it's harder to stay up on weekends but ehhhh

fraudsyndrome 5y ago

> a recent study found a physical cause for this - something about a genetic mutation that causes our sleep-signaling hormones to be created without the tails they usually have to navigate to the correct spots in the brain I know someone who is currently going through the diagnosing phase, could you please link that study? Their GP mentioned that you could take medication to "work" through it in order to match societies "normal" times. I don't know what a hormone "tail" means but if they have trouble navigating to the correct spots in the brain, how does it eventually find the correct spot? That reads to me like the hormone won't be able to navigate to the correct spot or it'll have trouble every time but from what I read those with DSPD do have a typical, consistent sleep time, it's just delayed (relative to the majority of people)