Delayed sleep phase disorder
It is a mouthful, but a lot more people suffer from this disorder than you might think. People with this disorder have a biological clock that is significantly delayed compared to others; this means that you cannot adhere to what is considered normal sleeping and waking hours. These people find that they go to bed and wake up way later than other people in their lives.
If this has happened to you most of your life, yet you consider yourself a night owl, it may be something to look into. After all, this disorder is way different than just a preference for staying up late or being able to concentrate better at night.
A lot of people who have this disorder end up not being able to go to bed earlier than 2 am, sometimes even as late as 6 am, no matter what they do. Others find it hard to keep a job with the normal 9 to 5 pattern as they struggle to wake up in the morning and are exhausted over the day due to not getting enough rest, and others even report finding it difficult to be an involved parent.
If you notice this in the young members of your family, there’s a chance that they will grow out of it. But if it keeps on happening to you, you should definitely see a sleep specialist in order to discuss how you can move forward so you get the best out of life or see what adjustments you could make so you get all the rest you need.
