Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder
What Is Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder?
Thanks to an internal body clock, most people get sleepy and wake up at roughly the same times every day. But if you have Non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder (Non-24), you may find yourself gradually going to bed later every night and waking up later each day.
Eventually, your sleep schedule goes all the way around the clock. For example, you might fall asleep at 11 p.m. one night and then can't get to sleep until 1 a.m. the next night. The delay gets worse until you're going to sleep at 2 a.m., 4 a.m., and later each night.
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Non-24 is a circadian rhythm disorder and occurs because our internal clock is not synched with light and dark cycles of the day and night. Most individuals with this disorder are totally blind. That's because your internal clock gets its cue from seeing light. But sometimes people who have normal vision also get it.
There's no cure, but treatments, including hormones, medicine, and light therapy, can help get you closer to a normal sleeping pattern.
Ask your doctor to put you in touch with others who also have Non-24. You can get emotional support from those who are going through the same things you are.
You can also get advice in support groups about how to educate your friends, teachers, or bosses about your condition and how it affects your schedule. You might need to bust some myths about it. For example, some people may think all you need to do is "try harder" to get to sleep on time. Explain to them that you've got a very real disorder and that you're getting medical help to try to bring it under control.
Causes
You get Non-24 because of a problem with your internal body clock, which controls your ability to sleep at night and stay awake during the day.
This "clock" is actually a group of thousands of nerve cells in your brain that sends signals to your body that it's time to wake up or go to sleep.