r/DSPD • u/ktfarrier • 6d ago

Preparing for the morning?

I've had dspd all of my life. My mom tells me when I was a baby, I'd never sleep at night - only in the day. Well, I'm almost 40 now and despite trying to be 'normal', if left unchecked, I revert back to my bed by 5-6am, wake up noon-2pm. That's my sweet spot. Obviously it doesn't work if I want to be a functioning member of society.

I have a dentist appointment in a few days at 10am. What are some of your methods to 'reset'? Pull an all lighter the night before? Prepare a few days prior? What I find I revert to is nap the day before from 8pm to 12-1am, and then stay up until my appointment, come home and sleep. It messes me up even more. I was just wondering if anyone had any insight?

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u/Alect0 5d ago

I'm 40 and I know by now I can't reset so I just don't book 10am dental appointments any more if I can help it. If I can't avoid it then I set half a dozen alarms and get my husband to force me out of bed. Though ultimately it's not his responsibility so it's still on me to get up.

I don't recommend all nighters as I don't want to risk developing N-24 and I've definitely headed that way in the past when I've tried this.

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u/__ssdd 3d ago

wait, you can develop n24 by doing that? shit. i might have fucked myself in the ass a little bit

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u/ktfarrier 5d ago

So your early appointment would be just you waking up on a few or less hour sleep. I try not to book early appointments either!! I just googled n-24, looks exhausting!!

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u/Alect0 5d ago

Yep that's right. Next week I have to get up for flight for work 1h after the time I fall sleep and go to a two day conference for example so I know I'll get one hour sleep and just have to deal with being wrecked at the conference. It has taken a while to get to this point but I've just stopped stressing about it as nothing I can do.

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u/ktfarrier 5d ago

Being in this 'wrecked' state during events, do you ever feel you could make a mistake driving, etc? How do you help yourself feel more awake?

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u/Alect0 5d ago

Yes I do feel that way sometimes so I organise public transport or other ways of transport (for example next week I get taxis). I drink caffeine, get up and go to the toilet if I feel I will fall asleep (people must think I have a tiny bladder sometimes), have a drink bottle on hand as having little sips is one way to stay awake, sucking on mints/lollies, and sometimes I have to do the cliche of pinching myself really hard. It has gotten easier over time to adapt as you come up with new strategies.

A few times when it is really bad I have gone to the toilet and slept for 10min (set an alarm on my watch) to get by.

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u/nightowlclinic_ 2d ago

I always wondered if I was the only person that went to the toilet to have mini sleeps!