Posted by JLx on January 2, 2004, at 17:01:56
In reply to Re: Larry, how is your sleep? » JLx, posted by mattdds on January 1, 2004, at 22:51:11
> Thanks for your very helpful post. I'm encouraged to hear there is a possibility for improvement. You no longer suffer from insomnia, or at least suffer significantly less? That's great!
I'm continuing to experiment with things, but in general, my getting-to-sleep these days is the best it's been in years. I usually only sleep for 6 hours, however, and hope to add to that a bit. It's convenient to "need" less sleep as I get older, but I've read that it's due to higher than optimal levels of cortisol circulating at the wrong times of day, so that's not so good.
> So you had delayed sleep phase syndrome also? I'm beginning to wonder if my problems are not so much latency - I go to bed fairly quickly...when I'm tired. The problem is that my phase advances toward around 4-5 am for in the absence of something to get up for. My problem right now is that I'm in dental school and have erratic clinic hours. Some days I have to get up very early, while others I don't have to get there until 2 pm.
I would routinely be on my computer, reading or sometimes watching TV (or working when I worked as a board moderator at CNN) until 2-3 AM. 4 AM was not unheard of either. I usually fell asleep by 6 AM at the latest.
> Basically, if I don't *have* to get up, I won't.
Well, that's the trade-off. Some people like the late-night life and if you don't have to get up early, then it's fine. Otherwise, I just readjust the things I used to do in the night to morning.
> I did, thanks for the link. Apparently, my melatonin production begins around 11:45 (sounds early). And I should beging light therapy at 8 am.
I think that if you want to change them to sleeping earlier in the night, then you would actually begin light therapy earlier than 8 AM.
What I remember best about light therapy when I was using it to reorient myself to sleeping earlier, was that at the certain time of night (like 10 PM) I would really feel affected by bright light (uncomfortable) and like I had to get to bed RIGHT THEN. I assume that was the melatonin kicking in.
> I have a feeling this is the bulk of my problem - my habits. I routinely play around on the computer until late at night, and leave the lights on. These are good ideas you give.It's been big adjustment for me but worth it overall.
> The malate salt is perhaps less likely to cause diarrhea?
It's true for me, otherwise I agree with Ron, there are other benefits to some of the other amino acid chelates too.
> Well put, it is hell. I feel isolated and out of sync with the "real" world. Thanks for your insightful post. I got a ton from it. If I can scrounge up enough money, maybe I'll buy a 10,000 lux lamp. Probably have to wait until after dental school to be able to afford the dawn-dusk sim (though I'm tempted, it looks so cool, haha).
I've been wanting one of those for a long time. :) This company has just a plug-in thingamajig that you use with your own lamp that costs $70. http://www.brite-lite.com/UsShop/Publish/vindex.htm?cat238.htm
The Bio-Brite Light Visor is what I have. It cost $400 when I bought it and I've had it quite a few years now. I bought it originally in hopes of treating my depression and figured it had the potential to be cost effective if it did that with therapy and psychiatrist visits being over $100 each.
JL
poster:JLx
thread:295133
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20031218/msgs/295829.html