My Problems with Sleeping?!

Hey!

I'm 21, and I have a very similar issue to yours, only that, over time, my sleep cycles have become even more so erratic.
First to mention, what I have found out researching all that messed up stuff online, is the possibility of a so called Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome. You can check it out on Wikipedia, that's where I have first found out about it.
Also, it might be, but it's less likely, a free flowing sleep cycle, when your bedtime hours shift every day, and after some time you get to the same starting point, and it all starts over again. (You'll see the link on wiki).

The thing is, those disorders usually start in adolescence, and unfortunatelly don't have a very good prognosis. Though, since you're still in the midst of puberty, there is a great likelihood of it totally being gone.

Do you have any mood disorder? Major Depression, Bipolar? I have Bipolar II. Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome is occassionally related to bipolar, as well as other sleep disorders (insomnia in (hypo)mania and hypersomnia in depression). Bipolar also usually first appears in adolescence.

Do you have any family history of sleep and mood disorders? How long has it been going on for you?
Are you under stress a lot?

The same thing as with you; when I'm "just" moderately tired, I have trouble falling asleep, but when a dead tired/sleepy feeling hits me while I'm doing something, I can fall asleep almost immediately. It's that sudden. What my psychiatrist has suggested me is Autogenic training (body relaxation technique), which you can find out about online or on you tube. Though, I was taught it by my psychiatrist. But this is just a BTW thing I'm mentioning here to you and definitely not a cure-all.

I've been planning on going to a neurologist's for a sleep study (polysomnography), though I was told I should first try to maintain as good a sleep hygiene as possible; going to sleep at the same reasonable time each night (around 10 PM-11 PM, though it's a known scientific fact that adolescents biologically tend to go to sleep later and wake up later) and waking up at the same time

Ok, that would be about it! I'd first suggest you try to stay up one whole night and day, if you cannot adjust it otherwise, and then go to sleep at around 09:00 PM-11 PM, and wake up after about 9 hrs of sleep (teens need more, usually about 9 and not 8), and try to maintain that rhytm as best as possible. If all fails, go to your doctor for help!

Oh, and one more thing! I have noticed that I usually start to dream (REM phase of sleep) immediatelly/within a very short amount of time (at most 30mins probably) when normally you're suppossed to start to dream only after 1.5 hours. I also dream too much!! So that also drains me.
Do you experience the same?

Cheers ;)

Personal experience and internet research.

My hours are flip-flopped right now. I was reading about cabin fever, and I wonder if this is part of my problem (and yours, especially since you don't have to go out to go to school). Also, recent blood tests showed I was low in vit D, the sunshine vitamin. I hardly ever go out. Then in Feb I was ill, and still regular doc wants me to see another, for this related illness; so again, I am not doing much, and tire easily.
If you don't get much sunshine, it affects your sleep hormones; melatonin and so on.
When my son was a teen, he had problems sleeping. Tests showed his adrenaline was off the charts (high) and did not fall into the normal range until about 12 midnight or 1 am. So, basically he was really in a fight or flight mode until those hours.
If you can, you really should see a good doctor. You could also try using Valerian (check the spelling for that), a non habit forming herbal supplement (you could check with a doctor) which might help you fall asleep as you gradually try to move your hours around to where you want them, for sleeping.
BTW, it was a good acupuncturist who did the test which showed my son's adrenaline was so very high all day until those wee hours of the early morning.
If you have not been getting out much, try to get in some walking in the sunshine; hope there is some sunshine where you are.
You may want to research the cabin fever thing yourself, also.

experience

Get back to a normal routine of 8 hours sleep. Go to bed at 11pm and wake at 7am. Stay awake the whole day even if you have to splash cold water in your face. Do activities during the day but no napping. If you keep irregular hours it could impact on your body organs, your brain, and your skin and hair quality. Have regular meals without snacks and avoid too much caffeine and candy.

Sure, it sounds easy when you read it but it is quite difficult to attain without some concentrated effort and a need to get back a normal way of life.

Doing home study may not allow you to do regular sports activities so you will have to make your own activities like a 1km run every morning. try to get into a local sports team if possible. A healthy lifestyle will ensure good sleep patterns.

Hi, I had the same sleeping routine as you for a long time... since I was 14.. until now . I'm 25, I finished college and now I have a fulltime job and I must say this is the first time in my life I go to sleep at 11 and I wake up early everyday! ...I'm pretty sure all the bodies are different, and maybe you're a nocturne person. you feel more comfortable being awake at night, you do more stuff... I used to clean my bedroom at 3 am XD. but the rest of the world have another timing, and when you have to sleep, the worl is working, studying, etc. so for sure you are gonna have troubles with your morning classes. Even now I'm tired al day cause I know I should be sleeping at morning.. pretty weird hahah.

If you need to change your sleeping time, you can. I can prove it ;)

empiric

HELLO PATRICK, usually our body system is built in such a way that we are allowed to work in sunrise. rest on sunset. well initially you may support the reverse system of working at night but gradually it will fail as there is metabolism loss in body in staying awake late night. so plan ur time working in early morning. "early to bed and early rise make a man healthy wealthy and wise". go to your bed within 10 pm to 11 pm. if you have problem in sleeping early, then have warm milk before sleeping, wash your feet before going to bed, can listen soft slow music, still problem then sleep straight put your heels on the edge of your bed so that ur just feet hangs out of the bed. rotate them clockwise and anticlockwise. each 10 times. you will have excellent deep sleep. regular pranayam helps a lot. it has worked with me. so all the best. get well soon