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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Sarah T. on March 15, 2005, at 0:47:44
I'm not sure whether I'm posting this on the correct board. I am a complete disaster in the morning. I do have what is known as "delayed sleep phase syndrome." If left to my own devices, I would go to bed an hour later each day and get up an hour later each day, so that's part of the problem, but even when I do get a good night's sleep, I'm so horribly disorganized and upset every morning. Once I get out in the fresh air, I feel much better, but it takes so much time and effort to get there. Exercise is a great help for my depression but again, the hardest part is getting myself out the door to do it. I try to do as much organizing as I can the night before because I know that I'm incapable of doing it in the morning. For example, I'll set my clothes out and any papers, mail, bills, etc that have to be mailed. I can't write any checks early in the morning. If I do, I make the worst mistakes. As the day progresses, I do get better, but I'm not really functional until quite late in the day. I used to date a fellow who was able to roll out of bed in the morning and be in class or at work in 30-60 minutes. I was always in awe of his ability to make such a rapid transition from sleeping to waking. It takes me HOURS -- literally. Does anyone else have this problem? How do you deal with it? I'm open to any suggestions.
Posted by KaraS on March 15, 2005, at 3:56:47
In reply to Extreme difficulty in the morning. . ., posted by Sarah T. on March 15, 2005, at 0:47:44
> I'm not sure whether I'm posting this on the correct board. I am a complete disaster in the morning. I do have what is known as "delayed sleep phase syndrome." If left to my own devices, I would go to bed an hour later each day and get up an hour later each day, so that's part of the problem, but even when I do get a good night's sleep, I'm so horribly disorganized and upset every morning. Once I get out in the fresh air, I feel much better, but it takes so much time and effort to get there. Exercise is a great help for my depression but again, the hardest part is getting myself out the door to do it. I try to do as much organizing as I can the night before because I know that I'm incapable of doing it in the morning. For example, I'll set my clothes out and any papers, mail, bills, etc that have to be mailed. I can't write any checks early in the morning. If I do, I make the worst mistakes. As the day progresses, I do get better, but I'm not really functional until quite late in the day. I used to date a fellow who was able to roll out of bed in the morning and be in class or at work in 30-60 minutes. I was always in awe of his ability to make such a rapid transition from sleeping to waking. It takes me HOURS -- literally. Does anyone else have this problem? How do you deal with it? I'm open to any suggestions.
Hi Sarah,
I have the same problem. It's such a drag - to say the least. I am also in awe of (and insanely jealous of) those morning people who leap out of bed with energy and enthusiasm to meet the day. I am a slug for many hours after I wake up. I've usually hit the snooze button a million times before even attempting to wake up. My energy is low, my concentration is poor and I'm extremely depressed. It all gets progressively better until the end of the day. When it's time to go to sleep I finally feel semi-human and so don't want to go to sleep. That's when I finally have some motivation and energy. I also have the delayed sleep phase cycle so that only adds to the problem.I hope that someday I'll find adequate treatment for my depression which will make the mornings easier. I think that I will always be a night person but I am hopeful that if I'm no longer dealing with depression, then I'll have more energy and concentration in the mornings. I've tried using a sunriser which works by gradually increasing the light in the bedroom so that you can wake up more easily and naturally. You've probably heard of them or perhaps have tried one also. Unfortunately that didn't work for me at all.
Supposedly taking melatonin at night and using a lightbox first thing in the morning is the best way to reset your cycle and keep it on target. I haven't using both of them together yet.
Posted by Sarah T. on March 15, 2005, at 18:32:23
In reply to Re: Extreme difficulty in the morning. . ., posted by KaraS on March 15, 2005, at 3:56:47
Hi Kara. My doctor has suggested the sunriser several times. I have a lightbox which does help me, but I think I probably don't use it early enough. It definitely prevents me from going back to bed after I turn it on, and it does help my mood, but I still have tremendous difficulty, and I put up tremendous resistance because I just don't feel well in the morning. As the day progresses, I feel better and by nightfall I finally feel moderately decent, so I don't want to let go of that feeling. In another thread, gardnergirl said she uses her lightbox at 6:30 a.m. I am starting to believe that the timing of all of these techniques, whether lightboxes or medications, makes a difference in their efficacy. A year or so ago, I read that, for some breast cancer patients, the timing of their treatments made a difference in whether or not the breast cancer returned. I can't remember whether this applied to surgery or chemotherapy or both. Some people who exercise regularly say that the timing of exercise also affects when they get tired at night. I think that vigourous exercise can suppress melatonin for about 12-13 hours.
Posted by KaraS on March 16, 2005, at 0:10:38
In reply to Re: Extreme difficulty in the morning. . . » KaraS, posted by Sarah T. on March 15, 2005, at 18:32:23
> Hi Kara. My doctor has suggested the sunriser several times. I have a lightbox which does help me, but I think I probably don't use it early enough. It definitely prevents me from going back to bed after I turn it on, and it does help my mood, but I still have tremendous difficulty, and I put up tremendous resistance because I just don't feel well in the morning. As the day progresses, I feel better and by nightfall I finally feel moderately decent, so I don't want to let go of that feeling. In another thread, gardnergirl said she uses her lightbox at 6:30 a.m. I am starting to believe that the timing of all of these techniques, whether lightboxes or medications, makes a difference in their efficacy. A year or so ago, I read that, for some breast cancer patients, the timing of their treatments made a difference in whether or not the breast cancer returned. I can't remember whether this applied to surgery or chemotherapy or both. Some people who exercise regularly say that the timing of exercise also affects when they get tired at night. I think that vigourous exercise can suppress melatonin for about 12-13 hours.
You sound exactly like me. That's interesting about the chemo treatments. I wonder if the timing of the treatments would make a difference if the persons involved were naturally night owls? Our cycles are so much different than the early birds. It's worth a try using the lightbox that early in the morning. Vigorous exercise couldn't hurt either, if you're in good enough shape. The trouble is finding the energy to do these things to begin with.K
Posted by Sarah T. on March 16, 2005, at 1:42:17
In reply to Re: Extreme difficulty in the morning. . . » Sarah T., posted by KaraS on March 16, 2005, at 0:10:38
You and I and all other Psychobabble Delayed- Sleep-Phase-Syndromers should get together and take a trip to Europe. We'll spend a couple of weeks there and, upon our return, we'll be six hours or more ahead of everyone else in town.
Posted by KaraS on March 16, 2005, at 12:26:04
In reply to I have the perfect solution to our problem » KaraS, posted by Sarah T. on March 16, 2005, at 1:42:17
> You and I and all other Psychobabble Delayed- Sleep-Phase-Syndromers should get together and take a trip to Europe. We'll spend a couple of weeks there and, upon our return, we'll be six hours or more ahead of everyone else in town.
:-) Yeah, for a few days we'll be ahead of everyone! Still, it might be worth it!
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