Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder

[chaoticidealism]

"Circadian rhythm sleep disorder" is the official name for it. I describe it as "my brain doesn't know when it's day or night". I can be tired at 11 a.m. or tired at 3 a.m. and it's just about completely unpredictable. Apparently I'm unusually sensitive to the upheaval caused by artificial lighting. When I don't keep it carefully in check, my sleep

Comments

[kfarrey]

I can totally relate. My sleep schedule has caused me trouble all my life. I put a lamp in my bedroom on a timer years ago. I have the lamp turn on at least a half hour before the alarm. That gives my body a chance to wake up more naturally. My hubby thought I was nuts at first, but now he likes it. If we have a power failure, he checks the timer to make sure its set right. I have used melatonin also, I have found I have to take it at least 12 hours before I want to get up, or I oversleep.

I recently found this article while while obsessing over cortisol.

Eat Your Way to a Better Sleep, by Dr Pauline Harding
http://www.wellbeingjournal.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=91

It seems, I do everything wrong! Here's what you're supposed to do:

Steps to Take for a Normal Balanced Cortisol Rhythm

1. Go to bed by 10 p.m.

2. Eat breakfast by 7 a.m.

3. Eat low glycemic index meals every five hours while awake.

4. If you eat gluten grains, use sprouted whole grains.

5. Avoid sugar and excess starch.

6. Maintain erect posture and avoid prolonged periods of sitting or flexion posture such as fetal position during the night.

7. Control pain.

8. Manage emotional stress. Following the first seven guidelines allows us to respond with more stamina and less stress to the challenges of daily life.

9. Confer with a health practitioner familiar with hormone function and therapies that help correct cortisol rhythm.

10. Meditate daily.

[chaoticidealism]

I wouldn't worry about doing those things "wrong". His web site looks really questionable. He hasn't got any actual science to back up his claims. The only things on that list that have any proven connection to sleep are controlling pain and stress.

You mean "She"

[kfarrey]

Pauline is a woman's name, and this isn't her website, they are just using her article. Actually, most of it sounds like good advice. Got to be better than skipping breakfast, drinking coffee til 10am, then reaching for a snickers bar because I'm crashing.

I looked her up online and found she has a practice not too far from me. I'm thinking about making an appointment with her. She's an M.D. with a background in nutrition.

So hard to find M.D.s who know anything about nutrition. I saw a gastroenterologist for my IBS, told him I was able to make all my symptoms disappear by cutting out grains, and he got out his prescription pad. You would think he would at least suggest a dietitian. You would think, if any doctor understood how food effects the body, it would be a gut specialist.

Also, meditation has been proven to increase your stress tolerance. I just don't have the discipline to do it daily.

And I know the glycemic index is controversial, but doctors used to put diabetics on a low fat, high carb diet. Now many diabetics use carb counting to control their sugar.

And how can avoiding sugar be bad advice?