Coping With Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome For Over 40 Years

by Mary Lynn
(Southern California)

I am a woman, who will soon turn 60 yrs. old. Have had delayed sleep phase syndrome since I moved from the West coast to East Coast, about 40 years ago to attend law school. Many all-nighters in law school and during the first 20 years of my career have destroyed my ability to sleep, and/or wake-up during "normal" hours. I realized, too late, that I picked the wrong career (too stressful with many deadlines, requiring too many all nighters, and too much pressure).

After putting myself through college (UC Berkeley) and law school (Geo. Washington Univ.) I worked for about 20 years--always got in trouble for coming to work late. Always worked late into the night and for long hours because I was far more alert at night. Finally quit, to be a stay at home Mom. Husband divorced me because of my sleep schedule and inability to hold "day job". Was not diagnosed with DSPS until I was in my early 40's.

Tried melatonin -- gave me migraines.

Tried Light Box -- too difficult to deal with schedule-wise and didn't seem to work well.

I try the round-the-clock sleep cycle readjustment process once or twice a year (for more than ten years, now!). It never seems to stick. All I need is one deadline or a little anxiety -- say, packing for an out of town trip, having to finish my taxes, pay bills, prepare for a party, or "whatever" -- and my sleep schedule is blown! But hope springs eternal and I continue to try that, in connection with sleeping pill therapy. Best results with a sleep drug/ anti-depressant, called Trazedone (or Desyrel). But it leaves me w/ a morning hang-over. Once the hang-over clears up (about 2 hrs. later, I feel well-rested, alert, and productive.

Now that I am older, I find it much more difficult to do the "round-the-clock" sleep readjustment. Very difficult to push past going to sleep at 6 -7 AM. Also, the older I get, the harder it is to cope with sleep debt, on days when I am unable to get 8-9 hrs. of sleep. A day on 6 hrs of sleep, or less, will leave me feeling extremely depressed. I discovered that the feeling of depression was made much worse by the use of sleep drugs, such as Ambien. Tried it two or three times and it made me feel almost suicidal. (Happily, I had the mental "wherewithal" to realize that my sudden feelings of extreme depression were triggered by the Ambien.)

Around the same time I was diagnosed w/ delayed sleep phase syndrome (in my early 40’s) I was also diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder -- ADD (no "H" or Hyperactivity component.) I am wondering if there is any link between DSPS and ADD? Are there others out there, who have both? Or is this an unfortunate, but uncommon coincidence?

I have recently moved back to Southern California, but the move has not improved my sleep schedule. Can anyone recommend a good sleep doctor/clinic in the Los Angeles/Pasadena area?

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Kevin: Dear Mary Lynn,

Thanks so much for sharing this story with us. You've been through so much, and it is stories like yours that really show us how much the rest of our lives feed off our sleep schedules in so many ways. It is submissions like the one you just wrote that make this site the big pool of insights and experiences it is, so thank you very much for that.

Your question about a link between ADD and DSPS is a good point of discussion. There may be a connection between the two, but not in exactly the way you might expect. What I immediately thought of when reading your question was something I heard a couple years ago about hidden sleep disorders in children and the misdiagnosis of ADD. I wrote about it on this site here.

I suspect connections between delayed sleep phase syndrome and ADD to be pretty similar to this in nature, in that individuals whose DSPS causes them real irregular sleep schedules and/or lack of sleep would likely have their attention affected as well. An altered ability to focus is a prominent effect of sleep deprivation.

From what I know, ADD is somewhat vague much of the time with regards to its source. It's possible then that issues that have to do with sleep are at the heart of many cases of ADD. This is really just kind of a gut reaction response, and I don't have any other knowledge myself on the subject other than what you can read with that link I included above.

Congratulations on your move back to southern California! I'm from San Diego myself, and I tell you what, that part of the world is tough to beat :-) For finding a good sleep center there, try searching the American Academy of Sleep Medicine's database of sleep centers.

I wish you continued progress for you Mary Lynn in coping with your delayed sleep phase syndrome. Feel free to keep in contact with us about your future successes, trials, and tribulations with your sleep schedule. You can always update this page using the "Post Comments" link below.

Warmly,
Kevin