Comments on: Weird sleep pattern

Question: Weird sleep pattern

atetrachordofthree — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 11:14:06 -0800

Sleep problems filter! what are some possible causes of my very weird sleeping schedule? I have been, for most of my life, functioning the best on a 2-hour nap in the evening, and then maybe 3-4 hours between 3 and 7am. I am not intentionally doing biphasic sleep-- I just get these strong urges to sleep (or to be awake) at certain times of the day. For the past 2-3 weeks, I am just all over the place in terms of sleep. Mainly, I am incredibly tired and achy the whole day, but I can't fall asleep when I try. As soon as the sun goes down I feel alive again. I feel like I am sleep deprived all the time, but there's also no telling of when I can actually fall asleep.

What are the causes of change in sleep patterns? I thought of some possibilities, but I don't know what to do about them:

1. I could be dehydrated because the heaters are on
2. It could be stress. I don't feel stressed out, but my friends told me that they sensed I've been stressed out.
3. I haven't been eating a lot of fruit and vegetable

And also, how do I NOT be a biphasic sleeper? It's really hard to schedule around, and I am not always in a place that I can plot down and sleep in the evening. When I don't get my evening nap, then my sleep schedule gets thrown off. Also, people think I am lazy.

By: PorcineWithMe

PorcineWithMe — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 12:10:25 -0800

You need a sleep study with a qualified professional. Everyone I know who has had one has found it life changing.

By: cecic

cecic — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 12:41:29 -0800

It would be something also to discuss with your doctor. There are health related problems that can cause sleep disturbances like this (liver, thyroid among others).

By: fightorflight

fightorflight — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 14:43:00 -0800

Sleep patterns are appetites similar to many others, and what feels like absolute physical truths ("I *must* have dinner by 5pm or I am grumpy") are the result of training and patterning, often before we are aware of it.

Retraining a sleep pattern is possible, but difficult -- probably harder than moving breakfast time. The best book I have found on it is Overcoming Insomnia by Colin Espie, a significant sleep researcher. The CBT techniques in there deal with much more than insomnia, and I think they could very well help you with this.

I promise it is not the "sleep in a quiet room and avoid coffee" sleep hygiene platitudes you will find elsewhere.

By: flabdablet

flabdablet — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 17:26:14 -0800

That said, has your coffee consumption pattern changed recently?

By: dottiechang

dottiechang — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 00:42:16 -0800

It is worth asking your doctor about it. I was having increasing difficulty managing a health sleeping pattern and was diagnosed with sleep apnea. I had my tonsils out (grew suddenly and blocked my airway in certain positions) and my situation drastically improved.

Now I feel rested in the morning (so don't feel I need a nap) and have a more normal pattern of sleeping.