Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome

Posted on December 15, 2008 in Latest News

Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome is a condition wherein an individual has a lot of difficulty in going to sleep early. No matter how early an individual sleeps, he /she will toss around the bed and stay conscious and go to sleep at a particular time only i.e. very late in the night everyday. The next day the person will not be able to get up early for school/work.

This way the person’s performance greatly suffers. People suffering from this disorder however, have no problem falling asleep in the morning; they can also sleep very well in the afternoon.

People suffering from D.S.P.S claim to be “night owls”, i.e. they say they function their best and are alert during the late night hours or evening.

One complains of suffering from this disorder after working for a long time in night shifts, or when is used to partying late nights. After a point of time the individual finds it very difficult to sleep early.

Difference Between Insomnia and Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome

Unlike D.S.P.S. people suffering from insomnia, find it difficult to sleep, be it night or day.

Treatment

1) Bright Light Therapy: This is a therapy wherein an individual is exposed to bright light during the day and less light during the nighttime. Exposing one to bright light increases one’s level of alertness and decreasing exposure to light during the later part of the day helps one tune one’s body to a rhythmic sleep order.

2) Chronotherapy: A procedure wherein bedtime is delayed by 3-hour increments each day for a week. This procedure is maintained until the desired bed time is reached.

Also, experts suggest various sleep correcting techniques that can be very useful to an individual.

Comments

One Response to “Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome”

  1. Aileen Leblanc Says:
    February 24th, 2009 at 5:32 am

    So, it’s not just me? I have been suffering from DSPS for as far back as I can remember and now that I have hit menopause it is absolutely worse than ever. I will take the advice you have indicated as treatment and see if that helps. Meanwhile I will investigate this condition more thoroughly. Thank you very much for throwing some light on this subject. This is the first I have heard of DSPS and it gives me hope.

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