My teen has an unusual sleep pattern where their bedtime and wake-up time shift by one hour every day. For example, if they sleep from 10 PM to 7 AM today, they will sleep from 11 PM to 8 AM tomorrow, and so on, cycling back around every few weeks. This has been happening for years. Is there a term for this condition, any known causes, or any advice on where to start looking for solutions?
This might be related to a circadian rhythm disorder, such as non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder. It’s best to consult a sleep specialist to explore possible diagnoses and treatments.
Lyle said:
This might be related to a circadian rhythm disorder, such as non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder. It’s best to consult a sleep specialist to explore possible diagnoses and treatments.
Thank you for the information. I hadn’t considered a circadian rhythm disorder. I’ll definitely bring this up when we see a specialist.
It sounds like non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, which I’ve heard about in the context of totally blind individuals, but it can affect others. There’s actually a subreddit, r/n24, where you might find more information and support.
@Amari
I’m surprised to hear there’s a community for this; I’ll definitely check out that subreddit. Thanks for the tip!
A sleep study could be beneficial. Sleep disorders like sleep apnea can cause irregular sleep patterns, and identifying them early can really help.
Jensen said:
A sleep study could be beneficial. Sleep disorders like sleep apnea can cause irregular sleep patterns, and identifying them early can really help.
That’s a good suggestion. We’ll look into arranging a sleep study to see what’s going on.
Are they managing to get enough sleep overall? Sometimes, if it’s not affecting their health or daily function, it might just be their natural rhythm.
Emerson said:
Are they managing to get enough sleep overall? Sometimes, if it’s not affecting their health or daily function, it might just be their natural rhythm.
They do seem to get enough sleep, but the constant shifting makes it hard for them to have a normal schedule, especially with school.
Consider experimenting with strict light management; using bright light therapy in the morning and dimming lights in the evening could help reset their internal clock.
Skyler said:
Consider experimenting with strict light management; using bright light therapy in the morning and dimming lights in the evening could help reset their internal clock.
That’s an interesting approach. Light definitely has a big impact on circadian rhythms. We’ll try adjusting the light exposure and see if it helps.